Prostate Cancer: Underdiagnosed, Misdiagnosed, and Misunderstood

Prostate Cancer Underdiagnosed Misdiagnosed and Misunderstood

Louie always saw his doctor when something was wrong and for his annual physical. Then, three months after his most recent physical, he learned he might have prostate cancer. While the doctor did more tests, Louie and his family worried about the outcome. They did not know if prostate cancer was treatable or not. The doctor told him he had cancer and started treatment. The side effects were hard and the treatments expensive, especially when they learned that Louie’s condition had been diagnosed. Both his health and his family suffered because his prostate cancer was misdiagnosed.

Some men face another problem – their cancer is not diagnosed until it is too late.

When medical providers make this kind of mistake, should they be held accountable for their errors?

Facts About Prostate Cancer

Statistics make it clear. You should have further testing, including a biopsy, if you are a man between the ages of 50 and 70 and/or you have a PSA result off 3 ng/mL. That biopsy should be analyzed by a qualified pathologist who knows how to use the Gleason score to determine the staging of your cancer accurately and to recommend the correct amount and type of treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is more common for men than every other type of cancer except skin cancer.

Even worse, only lung cancer is more deadly.

However, this disease is very treatable and five-year survival rates are high. When localized, men with prostate cancer face a five-year relative survival rate of nearly 100%. Even though the outcome for prostate cancer is generally good. Some doctors overtreat prostate cancer, causing severe and permanent lifestyle complications such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

Doctors perform several types of tests to find out if a man has prostate cancer. In addition to a physical exam, doctors may draw blood for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. High levels of PSA can indicate a man’s prostate gland is inflamed, infected, enlarged, or cancerous.

A man with an elevated PSA test usually is referred to more tests, including:

  • An ultrasound to get a picture of the actual prostate gland;
  • A prostate biopsy, where the doctor collects some tissue for analysis; and
  • MRI fusion that provides a 360-degree map of the man’s prostate gland.

At any point, medical professionals may make a mistake. A man’s physician may overlook symptoms, radiologists may misread the results of MRIs and ultrasounds, or lab technicians may err when analyzing tissue.

Failing to diagnose cancer in time can lead to more invasive treatment than if the cancer had been found earlier. Also, when cancers spread to other parts of the body, survival rates typically decrease.

Were You Harmed When a Medical Professional Made a Mistake About Your Cancer?

If so, you may have a malpractice claim. Doctors and other medical providers should pay for your damages, especially with something as life-threatening as prostate cancer.

At the Dailey Law Firm, P.C., our team of skilled lawyers and professionals provide sound and current legal representation that you need. Call us at 844-342-5353 to set up a free consultation or use the Contact Form on our website. There’s no fee for personal injury cases unless we win.

We represent clients throughout the entire United States. You can reach us online or visit one of our offices in Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; or Valparaiso, Indiana.

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