Failure to Timely Diagnose Recurrence of Breast Cancer in NY; Viable Case?

I recently evaluated a failure to diagnose a recurrence of breast cancer case involving a woman who'd been diagnosed with stage IIIB breast cancer.

$7 Million Awarded to Massachusets Family for Bungled Pre-Birth Diagnosis: News Report

Last Friday, a Massachusetts couple was awarded $7 million because their baby girl was born "with a rare genetic disorder known as cri-du-chat syndrome." Had th

Elizabeth Edwards dies of breast cancer

Elizabeth Edwards died today of metastatic breast cancer. Her fight with cancer became national news as a result of her husband's affair and his failed run for President. According to national news reports, Edwards' breast cancer was initially diagnosed in 2004 after she had felt a half-dollar sized lump in her breast. Her recent condition was treatable but not curable, according to the newspapers. As the case with many failure to diagnose cancer cases, the key is always in determining when the cancer should have been detected and what treatments would have been available had the cancer been recognized at an early stage. Typical cancer treatments involve surgical excision in addition to radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. The goal for any physician as to attempt to identify suspicious masses early since the patient will have the best chance of success with early diagnosis and treatment.

Prostate staging doesn't matter according to recent study

In a report coming out of the University of California, San Francisco, researchers have determined that prostate cancer staging just does not appear to matter after surgery. Staging is used to determine the size of a tumor, such as T1 or T2, as well as the chances that the cancer will recur. Oftentimes, cancer staging helps physicians and patients decide what treatments and options they have following initial surgery.

Ductal carcinoma in situ-what is it and do you believe the hype?

Let me ask you this question: If a doctor tells you that you have cancer but it has not spread, is it still cancer? That's like asking the age-old question “If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around to hear it, does it make noise when it falls?” Ductal carcinoma in situ is a noninvasive form of breast cancer. According to published news reports, about 26% of US women diagnosed breast cancer have ductal carcinoma in situ. According to a Newsday report yesterday, the American Cancer Society estimated that for the year 2010, 54,000 new cases of noninvasive cancer of DCIS. will be detected. Separately, the American Cancer Society estimates that for this year, 207,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, we are reminded about the devastating effects of failing to timely diagnose breast cancer. Whenever someone I know tells me that "This week is Red Ribbon day," or "National Newspaper Week," or "World Smile Day," I always ask the same question: "Why only one day, or only one week?" It should be every day. Especially when it involves a failure to diagnose cancer. I've written extensively on this topic, and it always starts the same way.

Michael Douglas has Stage IV Throat Cancer

Famous actor Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer. He says he's upbeat about his situation too. He's been promoting his new movie where he plays character Gordon Gecko in Wall Street Money Never Sleeps. He tells everyone on TV that he's getting chemo and radiation and now throat cancer is at the top of the minds of lots of people. His famous actress wife, Catherine Zeta Jones has stated publicly that she is outraged that her husband's doctors failed to detect this cancer in a timely fashion. She's rightfully upset. Although the details of what complaints he had and what his doctors observed or failed to observe are not public, the basics of failing to diagnose cancer is the same.

Some Mistakes Cannot Be Corrected

Learning that you or someone you love has cancer can be the worst news that you ever receive. Normally, finding out that there was a lab mix-up and that there is no cancer would be tremendous news…unless it comes after receiving surgery for the cancer.

Scanning the Dangers of MRI’s

Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents Cause NSF Doctors routinely make difficult decisions as to what drugs and substances to give patients and in what circumstances. Patients rely on their doctors to make safe decisions on their behalf. That is why patients become upset when doctors administer substances to patients after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies such substance as harboring potential health hazards.

Kidney Cancer-Losing a case you should have won

There are few things more frustrating to a trial attorney than losing a case he should have won. Obviously, there are never any guarantees when taking a case to trial. However, in the recent case involving a failure to timely diagnose kidney cancer resulting in death of a 60-year-old man in Queens County this is exactly what happened. Mr. Liew needed a kidney transplant. The kidney he received had unknowingly had cancer.