Medical malpractice occurs when doctors in Virginia and around the country fail to follow a basic treatment protocol with harm being caused to a patient. Cancer is the most misdiagnosed conditions, with a rate of 1 in 71 misdiagnosed cases according to statistics.
Breast cancer
Researchers have found that one out of every eight women can expect to get diagnosed with breast cancer, the leading cancer in women. While 16% of mammograms miss breast cancer, it frequently gets over-diagnosed at a higher rate.
Benign conditions get mistaken for breast cancer, such as cysts, abscess, or blocked milk ducts. Breast cancer can occur in men and women, but women or their loved ones are the plaintiffs in about 80% of these types of medical malpractice claims, especially women under 50.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma occurs in the cells of the lymphatic system or immunity system, which includes the spleen and lymph nodes. Lymphoma is classified into two subtypes, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and symptoms may include shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, and swollen lymph nodes.
Many doctors diagnose Hodgkin’s lymphoma easier than non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, because its symptoms are easier to narrow down. Lymphoma can get mistaken for lymphomatoid papulosis, histiocytosis, and infectious mononucleosis,
Colon and lung cancer
The CDC ranks lung cancer the third most diagnosed cancer, and it is the primary cause of death from cancer in the United States. It commonly develops slowly, which could make the disease hard for doctors to diagnose. Lung cancer present symptoms similar to asthma, COPD, bronchitis, and pneumonia, such as wheezing and coughing.
Colon cancer commonly causes diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Its symptoms overlap with other digestive conditions, such as diverticulosis, IBS, and colitis. Research shows younger people often require several doctor visits before getting diagnosed.