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Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis in Fort Washington

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women alike, and over 100,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Prevention and early detection are crucial in battling this deadly disease. Yet when colon cancer advances beyond its early stages due to misdiagnosis by a medical professional, the consequences can be severe and wide-ranging.

If you or a loved one suffered harm due to a cancer misdiagnosis error, you should seek help from our knowledgeable colon cancer misdiagnosis attorneys in Fort Washington. At Friedman Schuman Layser, we take cases across Pennsylvania and are ready to assist you today in this deeply personal and difficult time.

How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?

Colon cancer starts in the large intestine or rectum and typically begins as non-cancerous masses, or polyps, growing within the intestines. With time, these masses can turn cancerous and spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Early symptoms of colon cancer can include:

  • Constipation (inability to pass bowel movements)
  • Loose stools
  • Bloody stools
  • Dark-colored stools due to internal bleeding in intestines
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Irritation after bowel movements
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Weakness or fatigue

When people experience these symptoms, they deserve to be treated seriously and screened for the possibility of colon cancer. This type of cancer is highly treatable if caught early. If allowed to go unchecked, such as in the case of a misdiagnosis, colon cancer can spread with life-threatening consequences.

Common Medical Mistakes Leading to Misdiagnosis of Colon Cancer

False positives and false negatives are among the ways colon cancer may be misdiagnosed in Fort Washington. When medical providers fall short of the standards expected of them, cancer may develop, and in some cases it may be too late to address it. Some medical errors leading to colon cancer misdiagnosis include:

  • Stage or grade misidentification: When a cancer’s stage or grade is misdiagnosed, improper treatment decisions can follow, and diagnosing healthy tissue as cancerous, or failing to identify cancerous tissue, can both lead to poor intervention outcomes
  • Diagnosis oversights: Overlooking key symptoms, taking incomplete medical histories, ignoring certain risk factors for a patient, or choosing the wrong diagnostic tests can lead to missed and delayed diagnoses of colon cancer
  • Diagnosis delays: Any unnecessary delay of a colon cancer diagnosis gives the disease time to advance and spread to critical stages
  • Diagnostic errors: A wide range of issues involving screening can impact colon cancer patients, including failure to follow screening guidelines, misinterpretation of test results, poor assessment of patient history and symptoms, and technical errors

Mistakes in colon cancer diagnosis can increase risks for patients and shorten the time they have to treat the illness. When a medical provider’s failure to follow their standard of care leads to misdiagnosis, our skilled medical malpractice attorneys can review the facts and pursue legal action.

Common Losses Associated With Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis

Colon cancer misdiagnosis can cause serious and life-changing harm, both physical and financial. For example, patients can experience:

  • Severe physical pain
  • Increased medical expenses
  • Lost wages due to necessary treatment
  • Long-term or permanent disability
  • Partial or complete loss of bowel function
  • Loss of colon or other organs
  • Inoperable cancer

Colon cancer patients face longer recovery times if they were misdiagnosed at any point, and tragically, patients can suffer premature (and avoidable) death if medical mistakes cause a misdiagnosis. Our experienced colon cancer misdiagnosis lawyers can investigate the facts and pursue justice for those harmed by this medical mistake in Fort Washington.

Contact Our Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyers in Fort Washington Today

When a medical professional breaches professional trust and fails to identify cancer in your body, you have options for a civil lawsuit to address your losses. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to colon cancer misdiagnosis in Fort Washington, our compassionate attorneys can help. Contact our supportive legal team today to learn more about how to file a lawsuit.