Cancer is a disease that affects the cells in your body. Usually, your body creates new cells when they die off, and old cells die naturally. Sometimes, this process goes wrong, and the cell stops dying or keeps on renewing itself. This creates a tumor.
When you have cancer, the cells that keep on renewing start to spread around your body and grow into new tumors called metastasis.
There are different cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and many others. If a doctor misdiagnosed a patient with cancer, it is essential to be honest, and tell them to investigate further.
What to do if they misdiagnosed you with cancer
File a medical malpractice lawsuit for medical negligence
A medical malpractice attorney is an excellent resource for medical negligence victims. These lawyers can help you understand medical malpractice lawsuits and what damages to claim.
Are you living in Philadelphia? Do you have a case of misdiagnosed cancer? You can consult a medical malpractice attorney for cancer misdiagnosis in Philadelphia about your case because this professional has dealt with similar situations before and can give medical negligence victims an idea of what they can get in a settlement.
The medical malpractice lawyers you meet with should tell you about medical malpractice settlements, medical negligence court cases, and medical negligence claims. They should also give medical negligence victims an idea of how much money they are likely to receive in damages after filing a medical malpractice lawsuit for breast cancer misdiagnosis.
Certain healthcare providers are required to have medical malpractice insurance, too. Suppose the medical facility you were treated in had medical malpractice insurance coverage when a medical professional made a medical negligence mistake. In that case, you might receive compensation from their insurer for medical negligence damages.
Get a second opinion from a medical professional.
If you find out that you have been misdiagnosed, speaking with another medical professional is the best way to get a clearer picture of your health.
It’s important to know that second opinions aren’t meant to undo the original diagnosis, and they’re not always necessary for getting treatment. Still, they can confirm if you have cancer or another medical condition. This is especially true with life-threatening diseases like cancer — it’s always wise to be sure about the diagnosis.
Don’t be afraid to question your doctor’s treatment plan or request follow-up tests, either. If you don’t feel comfortable with the service you’ve received, let your doctor know so they can address any issues and answer questions.
Do some research on the symptoms of breast cancer and other types of cancers to know what to look out for.
Researching the symptoms of various cancers can help you know if you need to seek help from a doctor. According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms include:
- unexplained weight loss or gain
- fatigue and exhaustion
- skin changes such as a new mole that’s changing in size, color, shape, or texture
- severe headaches for no apparent reason
Visit a doctor specializing in cancer
When you are diagnosed with cancer, it can be terrifying. Checking all of the time to make sure that they are healthy is a tough lifestyle choice. It’s even more complicated when your doctor tells you that everything is okay, and then six months later, cancer shows up in a test scan. According to the Huffington Post, this is what happened to former news anchor Melanie McGuire.
In 2008, she was told that she had a benign tumor in her chest and underwent surgery to have it removed. Upon further testing, doctors informed McGuire that they found a lesion on a rib and thought it might be cancerous. The area tested negative, and McGuire was given a clean bill of health. Then, in 2011, during another routine mammogram, she was told that the lesion had returned and there appeared to be cancerous cells present.
When McGuire went back for more testing, they told her that the tumors were not malignant but could still lead to cancer. McGuire is now receiving treatment for breast cancer and is doing well. While it’s upsetting that McGuire suffered from a misdiagnosis, hopefully, her story will help others who go through the same thing.
It can be frightening and frustrating if you find out that you’ve been mistakenly diagnosed with cancer. However, knowing what to do next is crucial for your health and well-being. After all, getting treatment for a disease you don’t have will only cause unnecessary pain and suffering.
You must take the proper steps to protect yourself from any serious medical errors. When doctors tell someone that they have the disease, it’s critical to determine whether or not the diagnosis is accurate.
