Lawyers for Failure to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer in Pittsburgh, PA

Respected Medical Malpractice Lawyers Represent Victims of Failure to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer in Pittsburgh, PA

The thyroid is a gland in the throat, located near the Adam’s apple.  The thyroid produces hormones that regulate several important bodily functions, including blood pressure and heart rate.  Like most other regions of the body, cancer can grow in the thyroid gland.  Unlike other types of cancer, however, there is no routine screening process in place to detect thyroid cancer. 

If your doctor made a mistake that resulted in a delayed thyroid cancer diagnosis, you should not be left to shoulder the financial consequences of that mistake.  At Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, our experienced medical malpractice lawyers have successfully helped hundreds of clients recover maximum compensation.  Our lawyers are passionate about helping clients get fair compensation for the damage to their health caused by a doctor’s failure to diagnose thyroid cancer properly.

Doctors routinely screen for breast cancer and prostate cancer once the patient has reached a certain age.  Most patients are not routinely subjected to a test for thyroid cancer under currently applicable medical standards.  This does not relieve the doctor of the responsibility to test and diagnose thyroid cancer in a timely manner when a patient presents with symptoms or risk factors. 

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with thyroid cancer and you suspect your doctor should have diagnosed your condition earlier, speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer today.  At Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, your first consultation is free. We will listen to what happened and give you our straightforward opinion about how we can help you recover fair compensation.

Common Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer

Like most other types of cancer, the symptoms of thyroid cancer can also point to much more benign problems—such as a simple virus.  However, it is the doctor’s responsibility to detect, evaluate and monitor those symptoms and decide whether testing for cancer is appropriate.  

Some of the common symptoms of thyroid cancer include:

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• A lump in the neck, usually that can be felt through the skin
• Neck or throat pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• A scratchy or hoarse voice

Any one or more of these symptoms should alert your doctor to the possibility of a cancer diagnosis.  The doctor should evaluate your symptoms, as well as common risk factors for thyroid cancer, when ordering the proper tests and treatment.  Some of the risk factors for thyroid cancer include:

• Family history.  Genetic conditions, including multiple endocrine neoplasia or a family history of thyroid cancer, increase the likelihood that the patient will develop thyroid cancer.

• Radiation exposure.  Exposure to radiation, whether in an occupational setting or because of a previous cancer treatment, can increase the risk of a patient developing thyroid cancer.

• Gender.  Statistically, females may be more likely to develop thyroid cancer than males. 

• Age.  Approximately 2/3 of thyroid cancer cases involve patients between the ages of 20 and 55.  Certain types of thyroid cancer, including anaplastic thyroid cancer, are more common in patients over age 60.

When is Failure to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer Actionable Medical Malpractice?

As with other forms of cancer, diagnosing thyroid cancer early is key to effective treatment.  However, not every failure to detect thyroid cancer early is malpractice.  At Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, our lawyers analyze your medical records and history, and we work with experienced medical experts, to determine whether the doctor’s mistake violated the medical standard of care in your case. 

Examples of circumstances where a doctor’s failure to diagnose thyroid cancer can give the patient a right to financial compensation include:

• Failure to order diagnostic tests when called for
• Failure to recognize a tumor in your neck
• The doctor misinterpreted the diagnostic tests
• Lab errors, such as mix-ups involving patient charts
• Failure to get a full patient history
• Failure to recognize or monitor a patient’s symptoms

When thyroid cancer is detected early, before it has spread, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%.  Once the disease has spread to other organs, the cancer becomes much more difficult to treat.  Further, the type of thyroid cancer involved can greatly increase the risk of death if the cancer is not detected early.  Patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer that has metastasized (spread) may have only a 4% five-year survival rate.

If your doctor’s actions did not comport with the medical standard of care in your case, you should be entitled to compensation for that mistake.  At Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, our lawyers will fight to get fair compensation for:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Current and future lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Diminished quality of life
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of your loved one in a wrongful death lawsuit 

Contact Our Experienced Delayed Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis Lawyers for a Free Case Review Today

At Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, our experienced medical malpractice lawyers have a proven record of accomplishment in getting the most available compensation for victims of failure to diagnose cancer.  We believe that careless and reckless doctors should be held accountable for their mistakes.  We work closely with you and your family to help you through the challenges you may be facing. 

To schedule a free case review with a skilled medical malpractice lawyer, call or contact our office today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Failure to Diagnose Thyroid Cancer