Understanding Lymphoma Misdiagnosis in Oregon
A cancer diagnosis creates a lot of physical and emotional stress. While an accurate cancer diagnosis is stressful enough, an incorrect or delay in diagnosis of cancer is not only stressful but life-threatening. Each cancer has a particular type of staging system. The earlier a patient is diagnosed, the better the chance there is of a cure. One type of cancer that is commonly misdiagnosed is lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer that occurs in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is quite important as the lymphatic system is the system which fights diseases in a person’s body. When cancer invades the body and the disease is not appropriately dealt with, it can not only wreak havoc on a person’s body, but also can allow the cancer to progress further which can lower a person’s survival rate. This is why a lymphoma misdiagnosis in Oregon can be particularly devastating and even fatal.
Our Oregon lymphoma misdiagnosis lawyers know just how serious a misdiagnosis of lymphoma can be which is why they are prepared to review your case today for FREE to determine if your lymphoma diagnosis was caused by medical malpractice. There are many different reasons for a misdiagnosis, but any time any condition is misdiagnosed it can mean that there has been serious negligence or medical malpractice involved. As a result, a misdiagnosis could be particularly catastrophic for a victim and his or her family when the medical malpractice is so egregious that a person is sentences to death due to the negligence of a healthcare provider in Oregon.
What is Lymphoma?
As stated above, lymphoma is a type of cancer that occurs in the lymphatic system. This type of cancer affects the lymphocytes, which is a type of white blood cell. The lymphatic system is spread throughout the body which is why if a patient experiences a delay or misdiagnosis of lymphoma, it can make the cancer difficult to treat as the lymphatic system makes it easy for the cancer to spread throughout the body. The lymphatic system involves the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and thymus gland. There are two main types of lymphoma. These include:
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – According to the Moffitt Cancer Center, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is typically diagnosed in younger people. The median age for a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis is 39. Additionally, In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, there is a presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma typically present with disease in their upper body (chest, armpits and neck). Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma are typically diagnosed at an earlier stage. Patients with Hodgkins-Lymphoma can present with disease anywhere in the body where there are lymph nodes.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – In Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, there is no presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma generally acts more aggressively than Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Additionally, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is typically diagnosed in patients over the age of 55. Unfortunately, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more often diagnosed at a later stage if not diagnosed early.
What Are Symptoms of Lymphoma?
Symptoms of lymphoma vary but typical symptoms include:
– Night sweats
- Fevers
- Unexplained weight loss
- Difficulty breathing or new onset cough
- Fatigue
- Itchy skin
- Painless swelling of a lymph node or lymph nodes
There are also other symptoms of lymphoma, but these are the most common. Other symptoms can be more difficult to assess or are frequently thought of being something else.
How is Lymphoma Treated?
Treatment of Lymphoma can vary and depends on the stage of diagnosis and the subtype of lymphoma the patient has. Treatment may include:
Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses strong chemicals to kill the cancer cells in the body. While it may be effective in treating the cancer, it can also kill healthy cells and cause unpleasant side effects.
Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy is a type of treatment that uses a form of radiation to kill malignant cells. Strong beams of radiation are used and are most often directed at a particular body part that contains the cancer.
Stem Cell Transplant – A stem cell transplant is used when healthy stem cells are given to a patient in effort to help the body to form new healthy blood cells. Cells may come from the patient themselves (autologous) or may come from a donor (allogeneic).
How Can A Lymphoma Misdiagnosis Occur?
Misdiagnosis’ generally should never happen. A misdiagnosis of a condition, especially cancer can be a matter of life and death. Possible reasons as to why a patient may be misdiagnosed with lymphoma include the following:
– Inaccurate interpretation of results
- Inaccurate interpretation of imaging (CT, MRI, X-ray, PET, bone scan, mammograms)
- New or inexperienced physicians, radiologists and pathologists who may not be familiar or competent in diagnosing lymphoma
- Failing to assess the patient and failing to listen to their complaints
- Failing to performa. complete workup of the patient (i.e performing blood work, but not performing a biopsy)
- Failing to refer the patient to the appropriate specialist (i.e. hematologist/oncologist)
- Failing to obtain a sufficient biopsy sample
- Physician mistaking patient’s symptoms for that of something more benign (i.e. viral infection, lyme disease, or other illness that is not lymphoma)
Proving Lymphoma Misdiagnosis in Oregon
In order to be successful proving a case of lymphoma misdiagnosis in Oregon, a victim and his or her lawyer will need to establish a cause of action for medical malpractice. This is a type of negligence cause of action which is for when a party unreasonably increases the risk of injury unnecessarily to a foreseeable person. This is based on the standard of reasonableness which means that it is flexible. A flexible standard is important to allowing victims in different situations to prove a case.
In order to prove this type of negligence action, a lymphoma misdiagnosis in Oregon will need to show that the victim’s cause of action is prove by a preponderance of the evidence. This is a burden of proof that serves as the degree of certainty that a party can prove a case at trial. For medical malpractice, that standard is just more likely than not or 51% proof.
In order to prove this, in must instances one or more experts is needed to establish the deviation from the standard of care, causation from the breach to the injury, and the damages caused
How Can Our Oregon Lymphoma Misdiagnosis Medical Malpractice Lawyers Help You?
Lymphoma is a very serious type of cancer that needs to be treated immediately. A misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis could result in the patient having to undergo more aggressive treatment or may even effect their prognosis entirely. A misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis should not happen. Our experienced Oregon lymphoma misdiagnosis lawyers are able to help you by protecting your rights. If you or your loved one have been affected by a lymphoma misdiagnosis, you may be entitled to compensation. Compensation for this type of medical malpractice claim may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Past, present and future medical Bills
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost future wages
These are just a few of the many indications for damages for patients and their loved ones who faced a lymphoma misdiagnosis.
Ask Our Lymphoma Misdiagnosis in Oregon Lawyers Can Prove Your Medical Malpractice Case
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
