Ovarian cancer has a high misdiagnosis rate due to less distinct symptoms that are often mistaken for less serious conditions. This form of cancer misdiagnosis usually happens at earlier stages of progression and allows the disease to grow and spread until it is clearly diagnosable.
Why is Ovarian Cancer Commonly Misdiagnosed?
Ovarian cancer symptoms overlap heavily with common, benign conditions.
Symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Feeling full quickly after eatingÂ
- Increased urinary frequency
Each of these can point to conditions like a urinary tract infection (UTI) or digestive issues, as much as ovarian cancer. Because these symptoms are nonspecific, physicians sometimes treat them as minor complaints without pursuing further investigation.Â
A patient reporting bloating and abdominal discomfort might be prescribed something for acid reflux without undergoing a pelvic exam, ultrasound, or CA-125 blood test that could have identified cancer.Â
Why Does Ovarian Cancer Go Misdiagnosed?
There are several common diagnostic failures related to ovarian cancer. They include:
- Failure to consider ovarian cancer. Providers lose the opportunity for early detection when a physician doesn’t include ovarian cancer in the differential diagnosis for a patient with persistent bloating, pelvic pain, or urinary symptoms,Â
- Dismissing persistent symptoms. Symptoms that don’t improve after initial treatment should prompt further evaluation rather than repeated treatment for the same diagnosis.
- Failure to order appropriate testing. A transvaginal ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test are relatively simple and can help evaluate a suspected ovarian mass. Failing to order these tools when a patient presents relevant symptoms and risk factors warrants can delay a diagnosisÂ
- Misreading imaging or lab results. A radiologist or lab professional may overlook a mass on an ultrasound or fail to follow up on a mildly elevated CA-125 level.Â
- Ignoring risk factors. Family history of ovarian or breast cancer and other known risk factors should raise red flags and lower the threshold for further testing. Overlooking these factors can contribute to a delayed workup.
Delays As a Form of Malpractice
When caught early, before the cancer has spread beyond the ovary, survival rates for ovarian cancer are significantly higher and treatment less invasive. Once the disease reaches an advanced stage, treatment typically requires extensive surgery and aggressive chemotherapy. The mortality rate also increases substantially. A misdiagnosis that delays detection by mere can lead to a more difficult prognosis.
Such delays may support a medical malpractice claim in Philadelphia when a provider’s diagnostic process (or lack thereof) fell below the standard a reasonably competent provider would have provided. If the provider’s conduct indeed fell below the standard of care, you must prove that this deviation delayed your diagnosis and that the delay worsened your prognosis or treatment options.Â
A Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney Can Help You Understand Your Rights
If you or a loved one experienced a delayed ovarian cancer diagnosis due to a physician’s persistent dismissal of your symptoms, you may have a malpractice claim. An experienced malpractice attorney can review your medical records and help determine whether earlier detection was possible. Call Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C. for a free consultation for help.