Fighting cancer successfully depends on early detection. According to the National Cancer Institute, some of the most important factors affecting a cancer patient’s prognosis are the stage of the disease (the extent to which the cancer has metastasized, or spread), and its grade (how abnormal the cancer cells look and how quickly the cancer is likely to grow and spread).

Cancer screening may find diseases at an early stage, before cancer cells spread and when there is a better chance of achieving cures. Because cancer symptoms can share the characteristics of other conditions, however, proper testing by doctors is essential.

Examples of cancer screening tests are the mammogram (breast), colonoscopy (colon), Pap smear (cervix), and PSA blood level and digital rectal exam (prostate). But doctors often fail to take patient complaints of symptoms seriously and order these crucial tests. Even where the proper tests are ordered, radiologists may misread diagnostic films. Pathologists may misread slides. Each of these medical mistakes may delay a correct diagnosis. Such unnecessary delays in diagnosing cancer can be fatal as the disease spreads undetected and untreated to the point that it can no longer be cured.

Healthcare providers who fail to respond promptly and responsibly to patient complaints of cancer symptoms are responsible for injuries resulting from the delay. If you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. If you or loved ones believe that a failure to diagnose or treat stomach cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, or any other type of cancer has occurred, contact Portland, Oregon, personal injury lawyer and medical malpractice attorney Dane E. Johnson directly at (503) 975-8298 or online for a consultation at no cost.