After heart disease, cancer is the leading cause of death. Many different cancers can affect nearly any part of the body. Some cancerous growths do not spread through the body or pose much of a risk, while others can result in death two weeks after being diagnosed.
For that reason, doctors need to act quickly in making a diagnosis if they believe a patient may have cancer. Doctors who unnecessarily delay a diagnosis put their patients' lives at risk. You can pop over this website to know more about the wrong diagnosis lawyer.
Tumors can present in the body in either benign or malignant form. Benign tumors are those that are not cancerous and usually do not spread.
Malignant tumors, however, are cancerous and usually spread (metastasize) through the body, draining the body's resources and gradually killing the patient. Without running tests, it is difficult to tell right away whether a tumor is benign or malignant. Given enough time, however, some benign tumors can even turn malignant.
For example, there are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma can be fatal but is not nearly as dangerous as a melanoma. Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, but is responsible for 75% of skin cancer-related deaths, as it metastasizes rapidly.
If you or someone you love has suffered because of a delayed cancer diagnosis, you should not have to pay for the effects of a doctor's negligence. Your doctor may be guilty of malpractice, and you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, losses, and suffering.