Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney
Prostate cancer kills some 30,000 men every year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Over 240,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed annually, which makes it the second most common cancer to attack men. Fortunately, only three percent of those men diagnosed with prostate cancer die from the disease, thanks to new testing methods that detect the cancer early and advanced treatment options. However, nothing can be done if the cancer is detected after it is too late for treatment. That’s why early detection of prostate cancer is critical. That is also why a physician who doesn’t diagnose prostate cancer can be held liable for medical malpractice – If you have experienced a misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis, our experienced Philadelphia prostate cancer misdiagnosis lawyers can help your case and answer any legal questions you might have.
Men who have prostate cancer produce extra prostate specific antigens (PSA), which can be measured in a PSA test. Sometimes a doctor or urologist does not read the results of the test properly and gives the patient false hope that he is cancer free. When the cancer is finally discovered, the patient is forced to undergo harsher chemotherapy and radiation treatment to treat the tumor than would have been required if the malignancy had been detected earlier. In some cases, the cancer may have even metastasized and spread to other nearby organs, the lungs or the lymph nodes. When that happens, the patient could possibly die because the prostate cancer wasn’t detected earlier.
The prostate can also be checked with a digital rectal exam that every physician knows how to perform. The doctor can feel bumps or hard spots on the prostate with his fingers. The American Cancer Society recommends that all men over 40 years of age have a digital rectal exam and a PSA test regularly, especially if they have symptoms of prostate cancer.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:
- Problems urinating
- Pain when urinating
- A burning feeling while urinating
- Weak urine flow
- Frequent urination
- Blood in the semen or urine
- Numbness in the feet or legs
- Pain when ejaculating
- Trouble maintaining an erection
- Pain in the pelvis, hips, back or ribs
The reason prostate cancer affects urine flow is because the swollen prostate applies pressure to the bladder and surrounding organs. If you have these symptoms, you need to see your physician for an examination immediately. When physicians neglect to order PSA testing or perform digital rectal exams yearly, they can be deemed negligent if the patient is ultimately diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer later. The doctor could also be negligent for not performing a biopsy, transrectal ultrasound, x-ray or bone scan if a PSA test returns abnormal results.
Call Our Experienced Prostate Cancer Lawyer in Philadelphia
Because hospitals have a staff of lawyers who are experts at defending the hospital against malpractice lawsuits, you need to have an experienced attorney who knows how to fight against the hospital for your legal rights. Contact a dedicated and successful Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer at Rosenbaum & Associates for a free case consultation. We’ll advise you of your rights, and we can file a case against the hospital for you. You will pay no fees until we are able to recover compensation for your injuries.