Delayed or Missed Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, and when diagnosed early, treatment is often successful. Unfortunately, when doctors fail to adhere to proper screening protocols or make diagnostic errors, prostate cancer can go undetected until it has progressed to a more advanced stage. A delayed or missed prostate cancer diagnosis can significantly decrease the patient’s chances of recovery and survival and often cause unnecessary pain and emotional suffering for both the patient and their loved ones. If you or someone you love suffered because of a delayed or missed prostate cancer diagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation, and you should speak to an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano LLP Cancer Lawyers, our skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys have ample experience handling complex cancer-related malpractice cases, and if we represent you, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf. We regularly represent victims of medical malpractice in cases in Syracuse, Rochester, and throughout Upstate New York.

Prostate cancer is often slow-growing, but early detection is crucial for successful treatment. Regular screening tests, like the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test and digital rectal exams, are essential in detecting prostate cancer in its early stages. Medical professionals are expected to recommend and perform these tests for men, particularly those over 50 or at higher risk due to family history or other factors. However, a delayed or missed prostate cancer diagnosis can occur due to several types of medical negligence.

One common issue is a failure to recommend PSA screening for men who are at higher risk or exhibit symptoms of prostate cancer, such as difficulty urinating, blood in urine, or pain in the pelvic area. Additionally, even when PSA tests are performed, errors can occur if a physician misinterprets elevated PSA levels as benign or fails to investigate abnormal results further with a biopsy or other diagnostic imaging.

In some cases, doctors may perform the correct diagnostic tests but fail to communicate abnormal results to the patient in a timely manner. This lack of communication can delay the necessary follow-up tests or treatments, allowing the cancer to spread. Misdiagnosis is another potential issue, where doctors may attribute prostate cancer symptoms to less severe conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or urinary tract infections, without conducting further tests.

People harmed by a delayed or missed prostate cancer diagnosis may have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Generally, to succeed in a medical malpractice claim, the plaintiff must establish the elements of negligence. In New York, this means that the plaintiff must show that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty. Typically, the duty a healthcare provider owes a patient is to offer treatment that meets the standard of care for a competent practitioner under similar circumstances. For example, doctors are generally expected to recommend regular prostate cancer screenings for men at a certain age or risk level.

The plaintiff then must demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty by failing to provide care that meets the accepted medical standard. In cases involving a delayed or missed prostate cancer diagnosis, this breach could involve failing to order the necessary diagnostic tests, misinterpreting test results, or failing to follow up on abnormal findings.

The plaintiff must show that the provider’s breach of duty directly caused the patient to suffer actual harm. Proving causation and damages often requires expert testimony to establish that the delayed diagnosis allowed the cancer to progress to a more advanced, less treatable stage.

Victims of delayed or missed prostate cancer diagnoses can often recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can include medical expenses for treatments that would not have been necessary had the cancer been detected earlier, such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Additionally, the patient may be entitled to compensation for lost wages due to time away from work for treatment or recovery, as well as loss of earning capacity if the condition has left them unable to return to work. Non-economic damages are awarded to compensate for the more subjective impacts of medical malpractice, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

A delayed or missed prostate cancer diagnosis can have devastating consequences for patients and their families. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a healthcare provider’s failure to properly diagnose prostate cancer, it is in your best interest to contact an attorney to discuss your options. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano LLP Cancer Lawyers, our experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys are committed to holding negligent healthcare providers accountable, and if you hire us, we will help you seek the compensation you deserve. We often represent clients in medical malpractice lawsuits in Syracuse, where our primary office is located as well as in Rochester and other cities in Upstate New York. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, please contact us through our online form or call us at 833-200-2000.