How common is Cancer misdiagnosis?

How common is Cancer misdiagnosis?

There are over 2.5 million people in the UK who have been diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, about 25 per cent of people in the UK are facing poor health conditions and instability in cancer treatment. One out of every three people in the UK is affected by cancer, and thousands are diagnosed with it annually. Since Cancer is very frightening, a wrong diagnosis is the worst thing someone can ever go through.

Nevertheless, misdiagnosis is common, which calls for appropriate action, including compensation for the victims. Doctors have the responsibility to practice a high standard of competence in their work through the correct interpretation of the symptoms to avoid misdiagnosis that might lead to loss of life.

Cancers Conditions Commonly Misdiagnosed

Luckily, cancer can be prevented when diagnosed early. Early diagnosis can allow operation for the removal of the cancerous material, creating a greater chance of survival. This is only possible by doing in time cancer screening. Cancer misdiagnosis, however, may lead to unpleasant forms of treatment such as chemotherapy. Wrong interpretation of medical reports has led to an incorrect diagnosis, resulting in loss of life due to delay in treatment. The type of cancer risks being misdiagnosed include, but are not limited to:

Breast cancer
Cervical cancer
Ovarian cancer
Lung cancer
Prostate cancer
Bowel cancer
Bone cancer
Skin Cancer

Reasons for Cancer Misdiagnosis

Cancer is not easy to diagnose since most symptoms are similar to symptoms of other diseases. For instance, a patient suffering from lung cancer may have symptoms that are vague; weight loss, breathlessness, fatigue and persistent cough. These symptoms are often presented by many illnesses, making it very tricky to diagnose.

However, your doctor is still guilty of misdiagnosis if they suspect that you may have cancer, but fails to refer you for correct tests. Like any other professional, a medical practitioner must act professionally in his/her duties, and failure to do so may amount to medical negligence.

How Medical Practitioners Misdiagnose Cancer

  • Failure or delay in referring a patient to consult a specialist
  • Ignoring and confusing symptoms of cancer
  • When the doctor fails to schedule a biopsy after observing abnormalities
  • Failure to act accordingly on the biopsy results
  • Failure to administer appropriate treatments plan

A consequence of Cancer Misdiagnosis

Cancer scares normally results in psychological distress for several years. If you are wrongly diagnosed with cancer, you and your family members suffer trauma similar to that of the person who is indeed having cancer. Cancer scare sometimes causes anxiety and even strain relationships. Some people even go as far as making big life changes like early retirement and selling property just because they think they have cancer. Doctors are therefore advised to carefully analyse the results before coming to a conclusion.

Claiming Compensation

Over 7,000 women in Britain received false-positive mammogram results yearly, with an eighth of the men tested for prostate cancer receiving false-positive prostate cancer results. Every single healthcare practitioner in the UK has professional insurance; hence you must not shy away from claiming compensation. The compensation is meant to help save you on expensive medical follow-ups, damages, loss of job or rehabilitation.

It is true that cancer misdiagnosis may deny you a normal lifestyle, including working, taking care of your family, or supporting yourself, so initiating a personal injury compensation claim is the best way to go about cancer misdiagnosis.

Remember, medical malpractice cases have strict time limits, so don’t wait too long. Consult with your local personal injury attorney on the best way forward: whether filing a compensation claim is viable or not. Know your rights!