No one in the Midwest area wants to hear that they have cancer. A cancer diagnosis is life-altering and can bring on anxiety and uncertainty as to what will now happen. A cancer diagnosis can have a person worry about what will happen in their future and how many medical procedures they will have to endure. When a person receives a message that they have breast cancer they can be devastated but they believe that the diagnosis is accurate. Unfortunately, there are situations in which a radiologist is wrong about breast cancer.
A mammogram is a test that many women have each year to check and make sure there aren’t any abnormalities that can indicate breast cancer. If caught early, breast cancer can be curable, which is why it is recommended that women receive frequent mammograms. A radiologist is a type of doctor who receives these scans and analyzes them for breast tumors. Usually a radiologist has years of experience and is an expert at spotting both benign and malignant tumors. But if the person reading the mammogram is unskilled it can lead to a cancer misdiagnosis.
When a radiologist misses a cancer diagnosis it can lead to many serious complications for the patient. The cancer may have been missed on the scan which means that cancer treatment doesn’t start right away when it is most effective. Instead a person may not receive the treatment they need and can wind up with a worsened condition or even death. Or a radiologist may say there is a cancer when there isn’t any. This can lead to a patient undergoing extensive chemotherapy and radiation for no reason.
If a family believes their loved one suffered because of a cancer misdiagnosis they may want to speak with a legal professional who is skilled in medical malpractice. An attorney can review medical records and consult with medical experts to help determine what happened. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages.
