Did Your Doctor Fail to Diagnose a Malignant Tumor?
by
David Zevan on Dec. 10, 2014
Accident & Injury Medical Malpractice Accident & Injury Wrongful Death Accident & Injury
Summary: A missed diagnoses of cancer leads to life threatening consequences and can be the cause of a preventable death.
Failure to diagnose a medical condition is one of the most common medical mistakes that occurs in the United States. It often leads to life threatening consequences as the delay in treatment can aggravate the condition, making further treatment difficult. Failure to diagnose a malignant tumor often has fatal consequences. Negligence on the part of a doctor can necessitate heavy doses of radiation and chemotherapy for the patient. If someone close to you has been a victim of this type of negligence, consult a St. Louis medical malpractice attorney right away.
The Metastasis of Cancer Cells
Cancer cells exist in our bodies normally. However, when cancer cells start growing disproportionately, it leads to a disease we all know as cancer. When cancer cells divide and multiply beyond a point, they form a mass known as a tumor. Tumors can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). If cancer cells travel to nearby tissues or the blood stream, they may cause the growth of other tumors. This process of the spreading of cancer cells is known as metastasis.
Detecting a Lump or Tumor
Whenever a doctor detects a lump or tumor, he must perform a biopsy to understand the nature of the tumor. A biopsy is a procedure in which a piece of the tumor is removed surgically and tested in a laboratory to find out whether or not the tumor is malignant. If the tumor is large or is causing discomfort or pain, the doctor may recommend a surgery for its removal.
Medical Malpractice for a Missed Diagnosis
There are cases when a doctor fails to perform the biopsy correctly or does not read the test results correctly. Cancers that doctors most commonly fail to diagnose include those of the breast, colon, prostate, colon, and esophagus. Whenever a doctor fails to diagnose a malignant tumor, the patient has to undergo long and painful treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
If your doctor failed to diagnose your malignant tumor and you have had to endure a lot of pain and suffering, contact Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200. We will help you recover compensation for the losses you have suffered because of a missed diagnosis.