How Often Is Cancer Misdiagnosed?

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be incredibly frightening. In 2025, an estimated 2,041,910 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 618,120 are expected to die from the disease. These staggering numbers make cancer the second leading cause of death in the U.S., surpassed only by heart disease.

If you or a loved one has received a cancer diagnosis, it was likely devastating news. The situation becomes even more heartbreaking if you later discover that an earlier or correct diagnosis could have improved the prognosis and potentially saved your loved one’s life.

How Common Are Cancer Misdiagnoses?

Cancer misdiagnosis statistics show that misdiagnosed cancer occurs more often than medical professionals are willing to acknowledge. Given that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, a misdiagnosis can lead to severe outcomes, such as premature or preventable death. Studies by the National Coalition on Health Care indicate that cancer is misdiagnosed in approximately 15 percent to 28 percent of cases. 

Breast cancer has the highest rate of misdiagnosis, followed by prostate, lung, colon, and skin cancer. Deaths from cancer occur most often from lung cancer, followed by cancers of the colon, pancreas, and breast.

The number of misdiagnosed patients is significant, and many times their misdiagnosis could have been prevented. Cancer misdiagnosis occurs due to a variety of mistakes, and the impact of these errors can be devastating, underscoring the need for improved diagnostic accuracy and patient advocacy.

How Does Cancer Misdiagnosis Happen?

When a doctor misdiagnoses cancer, it means that a patient is given the wrong treatment or no treatment at all. In either situation, the results can be tragic and even lead to death.

Cancer misdiagnoses can result from several medical mistakes made by doctors. Some cancers are detectable with screening tests. If those tests are performed incorrectly or misinterpreted by medical personnel or radiologists, evidence of cancer may be missed, resulting in a delay in diagnosis.

The diagnosis of other types of cancer may be delayed because tests or scans aren’t done until the patient makes repeated trips to the doctor with the same complaint. By then, the cancer may have metastasized, and the patient’s life could be threatened. A careful review of medical records may show evidence of cancer in earlier X-rays, scans, or slides. If the cancer had been treated then, there may have been a better outcome. 

These mistakes may be considered cancer misdiagnosis, and patients or their family members may have a valid medical malpractice claim. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help families navigate the legal process. In Pennsylvania, cancer misdiagnosis cases are often litigated under the “loss-of-chance” doctrine. This legal principle recognizes that even if a patient was not guaranteed survival, a doctor’s negligence may have significantly reduced their chance of recovery or survival. In such cases, families can still pursue compensation for the measurable harm caused by diagnostic errors.

What Are The Effects Of Cancer Misdiagnosis?

Cancer misdiagnoses have distinct consequences and resulting losses. Some possible misdiagnoses and their effects include:

Failure to Diagnose

This occurs when a patient has cancer, but a doctor or laboratory makes diagnostic errors and fails to detect it. Consequently, the patient does not receive timely treatment, leading to the progression of the disease. In some cases, the patient may die without ever receiving the correct diagnosis.

Delayed Diagnosis

This type of misdiagnosis happens when doctors identify the cancer, but only after an unreasonable delay. Although treatment might still be possible, the delay often results in the need for more extensive and stressful procedures. For example, early detection of cancer might mean that the cancer is surgically resectable, and hence curable. In contrast, later detection might mean that the cancer is no longer surgically curable and requires additional treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation. Since early detection is vital for effective cancer treatment, a delayed diagnosis can be life-threatening, and delayed treatment might not be sufficient to cure the cancer, potentially leading to the patient’s death.

Incorrect Diagnosis

In this scenario, a doctor diagnoses the patient incorrectly. For instance, a doctor might mistakenly diagnose colon cancer as a case of irritable bowel syndrome. With an incorrect diagnosis, not only is the patient not treated for cancer, but they also receive unneeded treatment for a condition they don’t have.

What Are The Legal Elements Of A Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim?

To bring a successful cancer misdiagnosis claim in Pennsylvania, you must prove four key elements:

1. Physician–patient relationship existed
2. Breach of the accepted standard of care
3. The misdiagnosis or delay directly caused harm
4. Injuries caused physical, emotional, and/or financial losses

Additionally, it’s important to know that acting quickly is essential to protect your rights. In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date the misdiagnosis was discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered, to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. So, now is the time to find an experienced cancer misdiagnosis lawyer to help you with your claim. 

Finding A Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney In Pennsylvania

If you are questioning whether your cancer or a loved one’s cancer should have been detected earlier, your first step should be to consult a cancer misdiagnosis attorney. Evaluating whether an earlier diagnosis could have significantly impacted the prognosis requires the combined expertise of both attorneys and medical professionals.

At Ross Feller Casey, we have those experts on staff to make that determination and to help and support you throughout your case. We have helped many families in Pennsylvania get the compensation they need and the justice they deserve for the losses they experienced due to a cancer misdiagnosis. We can help you, too.

All cases, including medical malpractice, at Ross Feller Casey are handled on a contingency basis, so you will not pay anything until there is a financial recovery. Please contact us for a free consultation and review of your case.