Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis
Even with the advances of pap smear screening programs, nearly 12,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, and following cervical cancer prevention methods reduces the risk of contracting the disease by nearly 100%. Furthermore, if cervical cancer is diagnosed early, it can be treated and the prognosis for the patient is significantly improved. Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis of cervical cancer can lead to a delay in treatment, decreased chance of survival and even death.
Detecting Cervical Cancer
Developed in the 1940s, the pap smear aims to find abnormal or cancerous cells in the cervix. Pap smear tests can also detect a pre-cancerous condition known as dysplasia, which can turn into cervical cancer if left untreated. All women should receive a pap smear three years after they begin having sex or when the reach 21--whichever comes first. Pap smears are then recommended annually for women under 30, and every two to three years for women over 30 who had three consecutive normal pap tests and negative HPV result. Because cervical cancer causes few symptoms, pap smears, when read accurately, are the most effective way of detecting the disease.
Types of Cervical Cancer Misdiagnoses
Cervical cancer develops slowly; therefore, women who undergo annual pap smears find that any cancerous cells detected during testing can be treated effectively. Still, nearly 7,000 women will die from this disease every year. While a patient's unwillingness to get routine pap smears may attribute to these deaths, medical negligence is another common reason. Some doctors may misread a pap smear, leading women to believe they are healthy, when in reality, cervical cancer may be forming. In addition to misread pap smears, other causes of a cervical cancer misdiagnosis can include:
- Failure to perform the pap smear correctly
- Improper interpretation of lab results
- Incorrect report of lab results
- Failure to obtain full patient history, which can identify risk factors including HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer
If you received a cervical cancer misdiagnosis, our attorneys can help. We have handled hundreds of medical malpractice cases, including those involving cancer misdiagnoses. In addition, our cancer misdiagnosis lawyers know how to handle your case with compassion, as we have worked with many women who were devastated by a misdiagnosis of breast, cervical and ovarian cancer.
