“You have cancer,” are words that no one in Oregon wants to hear. However, hearing that your cancer may have been misdiagnosed can sometimes be even more troubling. While you may feel grateful that you do not have cancer, you may be facing a different serious medical issue, whether it is a different type of cancer or a different ailment altogether, that has gone untreated. The following is some general information on cancer misdiagnoses.
How can a doctor misdiagnose cancer?
Physicians may diagnose someone with cancer when the person does not actually have it or cancer may go undetected. Some cancers are rare, and the physician may mistake them for other medical conditions. Other times, pathologists think they see cancer cells when there actually are none. However, neither of these reasons justifies a medical mistake that can lead to the delayed treatment of a serious disease.
What to do if you are misdiagnosed with cancer
One thing you can do if you have been misdiagnosed with cancer is seek a second opinion, especially if your physician is not sure about the extent of your ailment, the seriousness of your ailment or if your physician does not specialize in your type of ailment. Obtain copies of your medical records, including information on pathology reports and hospital records. You can also ask your physicians to consult with one another if there is a disagreement about your diagnosis.
Learn more about medical malpractice
In the end, a misdiagnosis of cancer can be a costly event for patients who may need to seek additional medical care. When this happens, patients may want to consider filing a medical malpractice claim in order to pursue compensation for the damages they suffered. Our firm’s website may be a good resource for those interested in this topic.