Lawsuit On Failure to Diagnose Colon Cancer

Contact an attorney if you believe a medical professional's failure to diagnose colon cancer caused you or your family harm.

There are numerous ways in which a failure to diagnose colon cancer can lead to a potential medical malpractice lawsuit. Some potential examples include: 

• Radiologists missing potentially cancerous masses in imaging
• Failure to take necessary diagnostic tests for colon cancer
• Communication failures between doctors
• Failure to follow up with the patient
• Failure to notify the patient about abnormal results
• Delays in addressing signs of colon cancer
• And others

If you feel that a medical professional failed to diagnose your colon cancer and that has caused you harm, you should consult with an attorney about your potential legal options.

It is important to recognize that not every misdiagnosis case is a result of medical malpractice. In order for there to be a potential case, you must be able to prove that the outcome would have been different if the doctor performed within the standard of care. This depends on the facts surrounding your medical care including the stage and type of the cancer, when it should have been diagnosed, and the probable success of treatment.

Medical-Legal Considerations About Colon Cancer Cases

Medical professionals that are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer are most often a primary care physician, radiologist, gastroenterologist, surgeon, and/or oncologist.

Colon cancer (sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer) is a type of cancer that develops in the last part of the digestive tract, the large intestine (colon). It usually begins as small noncancerous clumps of cells called polyps that over time become colon cancers. Regular screening tests are recommended to recognize polyps and remove them before they turn into colon cancer. There are many treatments that are available to help control it to limit the long-term complications. 

• Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Symptoms of colon cancer often do not show up in the early stages. Some of the symptoms that may show up include: change in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation), rectal bleeding, abdominal discomfort, weakness/fatigue, and losing weight without trying.[1]

• Diagnosis and Treatment of Colon Cancer

There are numerous tests that can help medical professionals diagnose colon cancer. Doctors can perform a colonoscopy where they use a scope to examine the inside of your colon for any potential polyp (and to take tissue samples).[2]There are also certain blood tests to get clues on your overall health for indications of potential colon cancer. If a diagnosis is made, CT scans may be utilized to determine the characteristics of the cancer.[3]

To treat colon cancer, the most common method is with surgery, but radiation therapy or chemotherapy may also be recommended. Early-stage colon cancers are surgically removed through minimally invasive surgery, endoscopic resection, or a polypectomy.[4]For more advanced cancers, a partial colectomy may be required. Doctors may have to create an ostomy to allow waste to leave your body. Lymph nodes may also be removed to test any potential nearby cancer.[5]

•  Survival Rates for Colon Cancer

Survival rates for colon cancer are generally fairly good if caught early. For colon cancer, the 5-year relative survival rate is 90% for localized disease, 71% for regional, but only 14% if the disease has become distant.[6] For rectal cancer, the 5-year relative survival rate is 89% for localized disease, 71% for regional, and only 15% for distant spread.[7] These numbers apply when the cancer is first diagnosed, but they don't take into consideration other health factors.

For more information regarding a potential legal case for failure to diagnose colon cancer, call or fill out the form on this website.

Disclaimer: ** Do not take this information as medical advice or knowledge and consult with your doctor regarding your medical care.**

Sources

[1]https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353669

[2]Id.

[3]Id.

[4]Id.

[5]Id.

[6]https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html

[7]Id.

If you feel that a medical professional failed to diagnose a medical condition and that has caused you or your family harm, contact Washington Personal Injury Law today about your potential legal options.