Cancer happens when uncontrolled and abnormal cell growth occurs somewhere in the body. Some types of cancer affect the lungs, skin, breasts, or prostate. The causes of cancer are not fully understood, but there are many known biological, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors, including tobacco use, excess body weight, and inherited genetic mutations.
According to the National Cancer Institute, age is another risk factor for a variety of cancers, with half of all diagnoses occurring in people over the age of 66.
No matter your age, risk factors, or type of cancer, early detection and diagnosis are critically important. The earlier the stage your cancer is when diagnosed, the better your chances of responding well to treatment. Cancer becomes more difficult to treat as it metastasizes, or spreads, to other areas of the body.
When doctors fail to recognize or diagnose cancer in a timely fashion, it can cause patient suffering, delays in treatment, or even death. If a doctor failed to properly and swiftly diagnose your or your loved one’s cancer, a Los Angeles failure to diagnose cancer lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. For more information, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444.
Cancer Diagnoses
Cancer symptoms vary depending on the type of cancer and which organs it affects. However, according to Mayo Clinic, general signs of cancer may include:
- Fatigue
- Lumps or areas of thickening under the skin
- Weight changes
- Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening, redness, sores that will not heal, or changes to existing moles
- Changes in bowel or bladder movements
- Persistent cough or difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating
- Persistent, unexplained muscle or joint pain
- Persistent, unexplained fevers or night sweats
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
Some of these symptoms could also indicate a variety of other health issues. For this reason, a doctor may not initially realize they indicate a cancer diagnosis.
Doctors can miss a cancer diagnosis during initial consultations, diagnostic testing, or after testing has been completed. Reasons for a missed diagnosis may include but are not limited to:
- Inadequate taking of a patient’s medical history
- Inadequate physical examination
- Failure to order diagnostic testing (laboratory testing, biopsies, PET scans, CT scans, x-rays, etc.)
- Delays in diagnostic testing
- Inaccurate or inconclusive test results
- Failure to correctly interpret test results
- Failure to communicate test results to the patient
If you have suffered because of a doctor’s error, a Los Angeles failure to diagnose cancer lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help you investigate your case and determine who or what is responsible for your missed diagnosis.
Cancer Stages and Treatment
Cancer is diagnosed in stages, indicated by Roman numerals I-IV. Stage I is the earliest stage, and patients diagnosed during stage I often have better chances of survival. Stage IV has the least favorable prognosis, and cancer often has spread to other areas of the body.
Depending on the type and severity of the disease, some cancer treatments may offer a cure, while others are palliative, meaning they help relieve cancer symptoms or ease treatment side effects. Doctors may use a combination of treatments, which may include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Bone marrow transplant
- Immunotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted drug therapy
- Clinical trials
How a Lawyer Can Help
Fighting cancer can be physically painful, emotionally draining, and financially crippling. If a doctor failed to diagnose your cancer, they should be held responsible for your prolonged suffering and the additional costs of your treatment. A Los Angeles failure to diagnose cancer lawyer may be able to help you seek awards for:
- Medical bills. Were you subjected to surgeries, medications, or other treatments you may not have needed if your doctor had effectively diagnosed your cancer? You may be entitled to awards for the costs of your medical care.
- Pain and suffering. You may seek awards for stress, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and more.
- Lost wages. Id a delay in your cancer diagnosis caused your illness to worsen and left you unable to work, you could be entitled to awards for lost wages, future lost wages, or permanent disability payments.
- Wrongful death. If your loved one died because of a failure to diagnose their cancer, you may be able to seek compensation on their behalf. You may also be entitled to awards for your loss of companionship and loss of financial support.
For a free legal consultation with a Failure to Diagnose Cancer Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Medical Malpractice
A doctor or other health care provider has committed malpractice when they fail to properly execute their professional duty in caring for a patient. A knowledgeable attorney may be able to help you with a medical malpractice lawsuit.
If you believe you may want to take legal action, it is important not to let the statute of limitations on your case expire. California allows three years to pursue medical malpractice cases. If the statute of limitations runs out, you may not be able to seek awards.
Los Angeles Failure to Diagnose Cancer Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Represent You
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can handle your medical malpractice case. You do not have to fight for justice alone.
Our attorneys can help you through every step of your case. Our goal is to seek a fair settlement for you. We work on a contingency basis, meaning we do not collect a fee unless we win your case.
To learn more about how a Los Angeles failure to diagnose cancer lawyer may be able to help, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444.
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