doctor confirming misdiagnosis with another medical professional

Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis

According to the CDC, an average of 140,000 new colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed every year. More than 50,000 people die of the disease annually — some of whom could have been saved if they had received a timely diagnosis.

Did you or a loved one suffer harm due to an incorrect or delayed diagnosis of colon cancer? An experienced colon cancer misdiagnosis lawyer at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can fight for the compensation you deserve. Call or contact us online today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Cancer Diagnosis Lawyers Can Help You Prove Your Medical Malpractice Claim

A timely colon cancer diagnosis is critical to treating the disease effectively and improving long-term prognosis. A misdiagnosis, on the other hand, can make treatment harder, more expensive, and more emotionally challenging.

But by working with an experienced cancer misdiagnosis attorney at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., you can demand the compensation you need to treat your illness and improve your quality of life, as well as the accountability you deserve from the healthcare professional who failed you.

For more than 40 years, our law firm has fought for the rights and interests of Illinois residents who have suffered harm in medical malpractice cases. We have earned our reputation from our expertise and successful medical malpractice case results, including a record-breaking $32.7 million jury verdict and a $50.3 million jury verdict. We will leverage our experience and skills to seek a favorable outcome for your medical malpractice claim by:

  • Investigating the circumstances surrounding your misdiagnosis to find clear evidence of who was at fault
  • Consulting with medical experts who can draw a clear link between your healthcare provider’s actions and the harm you have suffered
  • Calculating the full extent of the past, present, and future losses that you incurred as a result of the misdiagnosis
  • Negotiating aggressively with the at-fault party’s insurance company to seek the maximum settlement available
  • Filing a cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit against the negligent medical provider if their insurer is unwilling to settle for the amount you deserve

How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?

Doctors typically use the following methods to diagnose colon cancer:

  • Colonoscopy – This procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube with a camera on the end into the rectum to examine the colon for abnormalities.
  • Biopsy – If any suspicious areas are found during a colonoscopy, the doctor may take a small tissue sample for laboratory analysis to determine whether the cells are cancerous.
  • Blood tests – While not used to diagnose colon cancer directly, these tests can check for signs of anemia, which may be a result of bleeding from a tumor.
  • Imaging tests – CT scans and MRIs can help doctors visualize the colon and surrounding tissues to identify abnormalities.

When performed promptly and correctly, these diagnostic tools can catch colon cancer early, when it is most treatable. However, if a doctor fails to order the appropriate tests or misinterprets the results, the cancer may spread.

Why Is Colon Cancer Misdiagnosed?

Misdiagnosis of colon cancer can occur for several reasons, including:

  • Failure to Order Appropriate Screening Tests – Cancer may go undetected if a doctor does not recommend colonoscopies or other screening tests when a patient reaches the appropriate age or exhibits symptoms.
  • Misinterpretation of Test Results – Even if the doctor orders the correct tests, they may misread the results or fail to recognize the signs of cancer.
  • Attributing Symptoms to Other Conditions – Colon cancer shares symptoms with other gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. A doctor who fails to consider cancer as a possible source of such symptoms risks misdiagnosing the disease.
  • Delayed Follow-Up – Prompt treatment is critical to fighting colon cancer. A doctor who does not quickly review tests to confirm a diagnosis and enact a treatment plan risks allowing the cancer to spread during the interim.

These errors can have life-altering consequences for patients and their loved ones. If you have suffered harm due to a colon cancer misdiagnosis, our experienced cancer misdiagnosis attorneys can fight on your behalf to hold the negligent medical provider accountable.

Complications and Consequences of Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis

When a doctor misdiagnoses colon cancer or diagnoses it too late, the consequences can be severe, including:

  • Delayed Treatment – The earlier colon cancer is detected, the better the chances of successful treatment. A misdiagnosis can allow the cancer to progress to a more advanced stage, making it more challenging to treat and reducing the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
  • More Aggressive Treatment – As colon cancer advances, the patient may need more aggressive treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. These treatments can have significant negative side effects and may not be as effective as they would have been if the cancer had been caught earlier.
  • Reduced Survival Rates – According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for localized colon cancer is about 91 percent. However, the rate drops to 73 percent if the cancer has spread to nearby tissues and just 13 percent if it has metastasized into distant parts of the body.
  • Financial Hardship – Cancer treatment is expensive, and a misdiagnosis can lead to additional costs for more aggressive therapies. Patients may also face lost income if they are unable to work due to their illness or the side effects of their treatment.
  • Emotional distress – A colon cancer misdiagnosis can have an immense physical and emotional toll on the patient and their family. Patients may experience anxiety, depression, and a reduced quality of life as they deal with the consequences of a doctor’s error.

If you have experienced any of these complications due to a colon cancer misdiagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life. Our experienced Illinois medical malpractice attorneys will help you understand your legal options and handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on your recovery.

Contact Our Cancer Diagnosis Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our compassionate attorneys understand how devastating a colon cancer misdiagnosis can be. Let us use our experience and legal knowledge to fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

Discover how we’ve recovered more than $2.5 billion to date on behalf of clients like you. Call us today or fill out our online form for a free consultation with our misdiagnosis lawyers.