Hearing the words “you have lung cancer” is life changing. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 222,500 adults in the United States will receive a lung cancer diagnosis in 2017. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.
In most cases, the sooner a diagnosis is made, the better the prognosis. Unfortunately, in some instances, there is a delay in diagnosis. In a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, lung cancer was one of the top three cancers most often misdiagnosed.
Types of Lung Cancer
The two main types of lung cancer include non-small cell and small cell. Non-small cell is the most common lung cancer diagnosed, which according to the American Cancer Society, accounts for about 85 percent of all lung cancers. Non-small cell lung cancer is further classified into subtypes. Subtypes include adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
The second type of lung cancer is small cell, which accounts for about ten to 15 percent of lung cancers. The remaining types of lung cancers are classified as lung carcinoid tumors or adenoid cystic carcinomas.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer may vary in severity. Some people with early stage lung cancer may not have symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- Persistent cough
- Voice changes
- Shortness of breath
- Unintentional weight loss
- Bloody sputum
- Chest pain
Causes of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is strongly associated with smoking. Researchers believe the carcinogens in cigarettes damage the DNA in the cells that line the lungs. Over time, cell division may become hyperactive leading to tumor growth.
Although smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, non-smokers also get the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, about 20 percent of people who get lung cancer were not smokers. Additional risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to secondhand smoke or workplace exposure to carcinogens, such as asbestos, nickel or arsenic.
There also appears to be a genetic link to lung cancer. People who have a close family member, such as sibling or parent with lung cancer have an increased chance of developing the disease.
Negligent Delay in Lung Cancer Diagnosis
As with all types of cancer, lung cancer is a progressive disease. A delay in diagnosis may mean treatment is not started until the cancer is advanced. Patients with advanced lung cancer often have a poor long-term survival rate. A variety of factors may play a role in a delayed lung cancer diagnosis including the following:
Missed significance of symptoms: In some cases, doctors may not recognize the seriousness of symptoms. It’s common for physicians to routinely assume symptoms are due to a benign cause, such as an upper respiratory infection. Part of the reason for this assumption may be that doctors often rush through appointments and may not take the time to listen and see the big picture.
Delay in testing or referral to a specialist: Instead of referring a patient to a specialist for further testing or evaluation, a primary care physician may treat what he believes to be a benign condition. Lung cancer symptoms are commonly misdiagnosed as gastric reflux disease, COPD or asthma. By the time the doctor recognizes that treatment has not worked and more testing or a specialist is needed, valuable time is wasted.
Failure to follow-up on abnormal findings: There may be cases where abnormalities, such as lymph node enlargement or nodules on an x-ray, are found. If abnormal findings are not reevaluated after a brief time, a lung cancer diagnosis can be missed.
Misread test results: It’s also possible a delay in a lung cancer diagnosis is due to medical errors by radiology or pathology. For instance, a lab technician may make a mistake while processing a tissue sample or the radiologist may misread an MRI or CT scan.
Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis: Sometimes, a doctor may diagnose a patient with lung cancer, and begin harmful treatment, when in fact the patient has another condition with similar symptoms, such as:
- Bronchial Pneumonia
- Lung Abscesses, Nodules or Effusion
One thing is clear; time is of the essence when it comes to starting treatment for lung cancer. Regardless of the reason for misdiagnosis or delay in a lung cancer diagnosis, the result can be life-threatening. In some cases, a delay may be due to medical negligence. If you are a loved one has suffered a lung cancer misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis, we may be able to help. Please call our office at 312-527-4500 for a free consultation with one of our top-rated attorneys.