Imagine the Unthinkable: When Cancer Gets Diagnosed Too Late

It truly is an incredibly difficult concept to fathom. As hard as it is to contemplate getting a cancer diagnosis in the first place, learning you could have avoided some of the pain and suffering you are now facing if only your doctor made a timely diagnosis. There’s no question about it; timely and accurate diagnosis of any serious illness, especially cancer, is critical to the prognosis.
A good doctor should be able to spot some warning signs. Of course, cancer is not visible (in most cases) to the naked eye. However, a savvy physician knows to order certain diagnostic tests when patients present with recognizable symptoms or complaints. There are, unfortunately, many preventable errors that can be made during the diagnostic process.

1. Tests are not ordered early enough to diagnose the condition in the early stages
2. Tests are misread so that the cancer isn’t diagnosed properly
3. A combination of 1 and 2 so that the accurate diagnosis is significantly delayed

It should go without saying that the earlier a serious condition is diagnosed, the sooner the patient can be started on a potentially curative treatment. At the very least, early intervention may delay the progress of even a terminal and inoperable disease. Conversely, when a condition is misdiagnosed the patient can be prescribed drugs that are contrary to what they really need and that may certainly be completely ineffective in treating their correct illness.
In the United States, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 10 to 20 percent of all illnesses and injuries are incorrectly diagnosed or diagnosed late enough to cause irreversible harm. Conditions included in the study include more than cancer: heart disease, stroke, conditions that result in birth injury, appendicitis diabetes and aneurysm.
If your doctor failed to diagnose your cancer in a timely fashion, or your cancer was left undiagnosed completely, you may have a viable medical malpractice claim. Contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Lombardi and Lombardi right away to find out your rights.
If you or someone you love has suffered permanent disability, traumatic brain injury, wrongful death or some other preventable injury, our compassionate lawyers will hold the negligent parties responsible and fight for maximum compensation in your medical malpractice case. Call today for a free consultation.