Six Commonly Misdiagnosed Cancers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, just behind cardiovascular diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.9 million people in the United States receive a cancer diagnosis and over 600,000 lose their battle with cancer annually. Cancer survival rates increase with earlier diagnosis and treatment in its early stages. Sadly, many patients receive a cancer misdiagnosis from their doctor. Below, Pegalis Law Group, LLC examines six commonly misdiagnosed cancers and the steps you can take as a proactive patient to avoid the risk of misdiagnosis.
How Often Do Doctors Misdiagnose Cancers? Why Does This Happen?
Doctors and other healthcare professionals are skilled, knowledgeable, and conscientious about the duty of care they provide their patients. However, they’re human, and they make occasional mistakes. According to medical researchers, it’s estimated that the cancer misdiagnosis rate falls between 10% and 28% of all patients. Cancer misdiagnosis usually occurs when a doctor fails to diagnose cancer, diagnoses the wrong cancer type, or diagnoses cancer where it doesn’t exist, exposing the patient to unnecessary – and sometimes harmful – treatments. Many cancers mimic the symptoms of other health conditions, while others are so rare your doctor may not be familiar enough to diagnose them.
1. Colon or Colorectal Cancer
Colon cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer if it’s detected early. However, it’s commonly confused with diverticulitis, a condition causing digestive system inflammation. Both conditions yield similar symptoms, including pain, nausea, and constipation. Pericolic lymph nodes can cue the doctor about the presence of colon cancer, but they are sometimes hard to recognize. Colon cancer symptoms may include changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding (blood in the stool), abdominal discomfort (pain, gas, or cramps), fatigue, weakness, and unexplained weight loss.
2. Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as fibrocystic breasts, which also produce lumps. New mothers with breast cancer are sometimes diagnosed with mastitis, which is also linked with painful breast tissue inflammation. It can be difficult to diagnose because not all breast cancer patients have visible lumps on their breasts or underarms. Other breast cancer symptoms include irritation or dimpling of breast skin, breast swelling or thickening, redness or flaky skin in the nipple areas, changes in breast size or shape, unusual nipple discharge, and painful breasts.
3. Lymphoma
The lymphatic system is involved with the production of white blood cells to help your body fight off infections and diseases. Lymphoma is a cancer associated with the body’s immune system that often goes undetected due to symptoms commonly associated with other conditions, ranging from a common cold to allergies. Lymphoma symptoms may include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes.
4. Lung Cancer (Mesothelioma)
Lung cancer is challenging to diagnose because it’s slow-growing and may not exhibit any symptoms for a while. Lung cancer is often misdiagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, or bronchitis due to similar symptoms, including chronic coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss, and chest pain. Patients may also be diagnosed with tuberculosis if they’re coughing up blood. Another reason lung cancer is often misdiagnosed has to do with X-rays. Lung tumors look similar to many bacterial and fungal infections when X-rayed, making their diagnosis difficult.
5. Pancreatic Cancer
Due to similar symptoms, many pancreatic cancer patients are mistakenly diagnosed with gallbladder diseases, acid reflux, or peptic ulcers. Misdiagnosing a patient with gallbladder disease can result in a delay in lifesaving surgery and/or chemotherapy to remove the cancer and stop its spread. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include abdominal pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, urine or stool color changes, itchy skin, jaundice, and blood clots.
6. Skin Cancer (Melanoma)
Unusual skin growths or lesions are often misdiagnosed as being benign or caused by aging. Melanoma is a rare, deadly type of skin cancer that often mimics the symptoms of eczema. Skin cancers are among the most commonly misdiagnosed because they involve biopsies (collection of body tissue samples) that must be tested and analyzed, often by outside labs or specialized pathologists. If a growth or lesion is new or changes a biopsy is the only way to determine whether it is benign or malignant.
How Can You Avoid the Risk of Cancer Misdiagnosis?
As a proactive patient, you have the right to ask for a second opinion when seeking cancer diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes getting a second opinion can be life-saving. It’s also essential to keep up with routine cancer screenings, including colonoscopies, mammograms and yearly skin checks by a dermatologist. Ask questions during checkups, and keep your doctor informed of your complete medical history and any changes. When examined, describe your symptoms as accurately as possible and educate yourself about treatment options. If you or a loved one has received a cancer misdiagnosis resulting in harm, consult an experienced medical malpractice law firm to evaluate your case.
Focused on Medical Malpractice Issues for 50+ Years
As a New York-based personal injury and medical malpractice law firm for 50+ years, Pegalis Law Group, LLC cares about creating proactive patients. Please visit our website and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for more tips to keep you and your loved ones happy and healthy this year.