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Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers

When Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis Results in Delayed Treatment of the Disease

Demanding that Maryland Oncologists and Clinics Provide Quality Care

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and 29,720 men will die of the disease in the United States in 2018. However, since LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, P.A. began practicing 33 years ago, diagnostic tests and treatment options have improved exponentially. It is now possible to catch prostate cancer at its earliest stages — sometimes before symptoms even appear. Advancements in treatment options also increase the chances of survival and even curing the disease.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis

According to the American Cancer Society, about one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point. What happens next depends on a number of factors. Of primary importance is at what stage the disease is detected. The percentage of men who survive for at least five years, including those who are completely cured of the disease and live much longer, after receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis is:

Nearly 100 percent at the local stage — No cancer has spread beyond the prostate at stages I and II.
Nearly 100 percent at the regional stage — Cancer, including some stage III and IV cancers, has spread to nearby areas.
28 percent at the distant stage — Stage IV cancers have spread to lymph nodes, bones and other organs throughout the body.

Cancer misdiagnosis can delay detection until the distant stage when chances of survival diminish drastically.

Prostate Screening

With these simple tests, doctors can make the initial life-saving diagnosis of early-stage prostate cancer:

PSA — Measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in a man’s blood
DRE — Involves a physical examination of the rectal gland

Because systems of prostate cancer may not manifest at the local stage, the American Cancer Society recommends timelines for conducting these crucial tests in men at average or high risk of developing the disease. If your doctor’s failure to follow these standard guidelines denied you the opportunity to receive crucial treatment, you may have a medical malpractice claim.