What Cancers are Most Commonly Misdiagnosed and Why

Learn what are the cancers that are most commonly misdiagnosed and find out the reasons why.

Cancer is a leading cause of death in every country in the world. In 2017, the U.S. alone spent $147.3 billion on medical care related to cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Experts expect this to increase as the population ages.

As devastating as a cancer diagnosis can be, experiencing a delay in treatment due to a cancer misdiagnosis makes things worse. 

Why Does Cancer Misdiagnosis Occur? 

Cancer misdiagnosis can occur for a variety of reasons, including: 

• Symptoms that mimic those of other diseases.
• A huge number of different types of cancers.
• Symptoms showing differently in different individuals.
• Doctors not conducting necessary tests to detect cancer. 
• Doctors dismissing early warning signs as minor complaints.
• Doctors ruling out the possibility of cancer because of factors such as age. 

4 Commonly Misdiagnosed Cancers. 

1. Breast Cancer. About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with some kind of cancer during their lifetime. Breast cancer is the top cause of cancer in women, and some types of breast cancer are misdiagnosed at higher rates than other kinds of cancer.
2. Colorectal Cancer. Colorectal cancer encompasses rectal cancer, colon cancer, and cancers that occur in the lower intestine. It’s common for patients who have colorectal cancer to be misdiagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, or ulcerative colitis. 
3. Pancreatic Cancer. When patients with pancreatic cancer have symptoms, they tend to occur in the digestive system. As with colorectal cancer, a person with pancreatic cancer might experience symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. They may also be told they have gallstones or pancreatitis. 
4. Lung Cancer. Together, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer make up 10 percent of all misdiagnosed cancer cases. The symptoms of lung cancer can vary, but many patients experience wheezing and coughing. These symptoms often appear in chest infections, the flu, and the common cold. As a result, patients may not receive a timely diagnosis. Their doctor might tell them they have asthma, pneumonia, or bronchitis. This can lead to a delay in treatment.

If you have suffered a delay in your treatment due to a misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis involving cancer, you should discuss your options with an experienced New York City medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. There are strict time limits for filing a medical malpractice claim, so it’s in your best interest to seek help from a knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer right away.   

New York City medical malpractice lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC Telephone: 212-736-0979

Sources:

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics

https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cancer-misdiagnosis-how-handle#1

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