If your doctor told you that you had uterine fibroids, but you really have endometrial cancer, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against them if you suffered harm as a result of their inaccurate diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis is key to successfully treating cancer, and a delayed diagnosis can cause many preventable consequences.
If you find yourself in this situation, know that you are not alone. The caring and compassionate medical malpractice attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP are here to help. Call us today for a free consultation.
Fibroids, Polyps, and Endometrial Cancer
To understand the distinction between fibroids, polyps, and uterine cancer, it is useful to begin with a definition of the less serious conditions. Fibroids are made of muscle tissue. Polyps are made of endometrial lining tissue. Both are common and can grow in the uterus. While they are often benign and not as serious as endometrial cancer, they can cause heavy bleeding, fertility issues, and other problems.
In contrast, endometrial cancer is a serious health condition that can have fatal consequences when it is allowed to grow undetected. It begins in the lining of the uterus, the endometrium. This condition is highly treatable if caught early.
Symptoms of Fibroids and Endometrial Cancer
According to the Mayo Clinic, many people with uterine fibroids do not show any symptoms. Symptoms can vary from one patient to the next because of factors such as the fibroid’s location, size, and number.
The most common symptoms associated with uterine fibroids include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding: Due to the pressure that the fibroid exerts on the uterus, many patients experience heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods.
- Changes in menstrual cycles: Some people experience other changes, such as longer or more frequent periods. Others may bleed between periods or pass large blood clots.
- Pelvic pressure or pelvic pain: Some patients report having a feeling of heaviness or fullness in their lower stomach or pelvic area. This can happen because large fibroids enlarge the abdomen and cause a firm bulge.
- Pain: Fibroids can cause pain across various regions of the body, including the stomach, lower back, legs, or pelvis. When a fibroid outgrows its blood supply, it can cause sudden, severe pain.
- Frequent urination or trouble urinating: Many people with uterine fibroids experience urgency around urination or the need to urinate frequently due to pressure on their bladder. Others may have difficulty urinating.
- Constipation: The additional pressure can also make it difficult for patients to have normal bowel movements.
- Pain during sex: Some patients report feeling pain during intercourse.
- Pregnancy complications: When patients are pregnant, they may experience an early onset of labor or an increased likelihood of a cesarean section.
The most common symptoms of endometrial cancer are postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, bleeding between periods, and pelvic pain. Other symptoms include:
- Watery or blood-tinged vaginal discharge
- An unpleasant vaginal smell
- Difficulty urinating
- Changes in urinary or bowel function
- Pain during sex
- Unexplained weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain or discomfort
As you can see, many of these symptoms overlap with those associated with uterine fibroids.
When Imaging Findings Should Prompt Tissue Sampling
A tissue sample or biopsy is one of the most effective ways to diagnose cancer. During this procedure, a medical provider takes a small sample. The sample is then sent to a laboratory where it is investigated to determine whether it is cancer.
Tissue sampling is usually expected when endometrial thickness in a postmenopausal woman is greater than four to five millimeters. However, any suspicious findings may warrant tissue sampling.
Various tools can be used to diagnose endometrial cancer before a biopsy is performed. A transvaginal ultrasound is the primary imaging method to evaluate postmenopausal or abnormal uterine bleeding. Here are some widely accepted guidelines for when tissue sampling might be recommended after using this imaging modality:
- Endometrial thickness: An endometrial thickness of four to five millimeters in a symptomatic postmenopausal woman warrants endometrial tissue sampling.
- Masses: Distinct masses, irregular focal thickening, or localized polyps also warrant tissue sampling.
- Fluid collection or accumulation: Fluid in the endometrial cavity can block the lining. Any fluid that is irregular, thickened, or has a vascularized wall requires a biopsy.
Other situations or factors can warrant tissue sampling. Medical care should be individualized for the patient. Risk factors that may make it more likely for a patient to develop endometrial cancer and justify further investigation with a tissue sample may include:
- Older age
- Obesity
- Poor diet
- Young age at the beginning of menstruation or late age after menopause
- Use of hormones
- A family history of endometrial cancer or colon cancer
- A prior history of cancer
- No pregnancy history
- Using certain medications
- Having certain medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
- Having completed radiation therapy in the past
Types of Biopsies and Tissue Samplings
Medical providers may use various tools to extract and analyze tissue samples, including:
- Endometrial biopsies, which use a Pipelle aspiration and are less invasive than other types of biopsies
- Hysteroscopy-guided biopsies, which visualize the uterine cavity to direct biopsies to particular focal, suspicious, or polypoid lesions
- Dilation and curettage, which is used when other methods are inadequate or ineffective
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used for local staging after biopsy unless obtaining a biopsy is not possible safely. This procedure may be recommended if any of the following situations apply:
- A tumor has invaded the uterus’s myometrial muscle layer.
- A tumor has extended into the cervix.
- Suspicious findings include enlarged lymph nodes, adnexal masses, or peritoneal implants.
Why Endometrial Cancer Misdiagnoses Occur
Endometrial cancer is often misdiagnosed as uterine fibroids because the latter condition is much more common. Research indicates that 70% of white women and more than 80% of women of African ancestry will be diagnosed with uterine fibroids during their lifetime, compared to the mere 68,270 new cases of endometrial cancer that the American Cancer Society estimates will be diagnosed per year. According to these numbers, it is far more statistically likely that a woman has uterine fibroids rather than endometrial cancer. Additionally, the two conditions share similar symptoms, which can lead to misdiagnosis.
Other reasons why endometrial cancer diagnoses are missed or delayed include:
- Doctors fail to recognize symptoms, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, painful urination, or pelvic pain.
- Healthcare providers ignore a patient’s history or risk factors that make them more likely to develop endometrial cancer.
- Medical professionals fail to order appropriate tests, such as MRIs, biopsies, or other imaging studies.
- Radiologists or other healthcare professionals misinterpret test results.
How a Fibroid or Polyp Diagnosis Can Derail Care for Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is extremely treatable when it is discovered early, with a reported five-year survival rate of 96%. However, regional endometrial cancer has a five-year survival rate of 72%. Distant endometrial cancer drops further to 22%.
A timely (and accurate) diagnosis is essential to having the best chances for success. When a doctor misdiagnoses a patient with uterine fibroids or polyps instead of endometrial cancer, the patient does not know that they have cancer. They don’t receive the treatment they need, and they are not vigilant about monitoring for new conditions.
Without a prompt diagnosis, endometrial cancer can spread. To beat the cancer, you might have to use more aggressive and painful treatment options. You can also lose fertility.
When a Misdiagnosis Is Medical Malpractice
A misdiagnosis can form the basis of a medical malpractice claim when another provider in the same specialty and geographic area would have properly diagnosed the patient, and the patient suffers harm because the provider deviated from the standard of care. Medical malpractice is a highly technical area of the law. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can review your case and explain whether you have a viable cause of action.
Why Should I Choose Powers & Santola, LLP for My Medical Malpractice Case
If you have decided to move forward with a medical malpractice claim, you must work with an experienced medical malpractice attorney who is qualified to handle your claim. Some of the features that set Powers & Santola, LLP apart include the following:
- Results: Our personal injury and medical malpractice law firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
- Experience: Our Upstate New York law firm has been in business for over 40 years and has stood the test of time.
- Focus: Our attorneys work exclusively on medical malpractice and personal injury cases. This laser-sharp focus has helped us learn and anticipate the nuances of these cases.
- Reputation: Powers & Santola, LLP, as a firm, and our individual attorneys have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America as one of the best law firms in the nation and as Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year and Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year. When we take on a case, insurance companies and defendants know it has merit and that we take the outcome seriously. This often helps us obtain fair settlement offers.
- Preparation: Our attorneys prepare every case for trial, which helps us master the specifics, whether or not the case ultimately concludes in settlement or trial.
- Resources: Medical malpractice cases involving delayed diagnoses depend on being able to connect your healthcare provider’s actions or inactions with the advanced progression of the cancer. Our law firm has a nationwide network of experts and the resources necessary to prove complex legal claims.
We offer a free consultation to discuss your situation. Call us today to learn more.
Damages You Can Recover in a New York Medical Malpractice Case
Medical malpractice victims can pursue compensation for the various damages that they suffered due to the delayed diagnosis, such as:
- Medical expenses: Compensation for additional medical expenses, including hospital stays, chemotherapy, radiation, diagnostic tests, and future medical expenses.
- Lost income: Compensation for your lost wages and benefits you suffered due to the cancer.
- Reduced earning capacity: The reduction of your long-term earning capacity caused by a more advanced stage of cancer.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for your physical pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish: Compensation for the emotional distress and mental anguish you suffer because of your later-stage diagnosis.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Reductions in your quality of life.
- Reduced life expectancy: Earlier death due to progression of the cancer.
When a delayed diagnosis results in the death of a loved one, surviving family members may be able to pursue justice through a wrongful death claim. New York wrongful death cases largely limit damages to pecuniary (financial) losses, such as:
- Lost earnings: Compensation for the projected income, benefits, and retirement contributions your loved one likely would have earned had they survived.
- Loss of services: Compensation for cooking, cleaning, maintenance, childcare, and other household services your loved one would have provided had they lived.
- Funeral and burial costs: Reasonable costs for burial expenses and funeral costs.
- Loss of parental guidance: Financial compensation reserved for minor children for their lost care, nurturing, guidance, and education.
In some cases, the personal representative of the decedent’s estate may be able to recover compensation for the decedent’s losses through a survivorship action, including to pay for medical bills and to compensate for their conscious pain and suffering.
Call Today for a Free Case Review
If your doctor mistakenly diagnosed you with uterine fibroids instead of endometrial cancer and you suffered as a result, turn to the caring legal team at Powers & Sanotla, LLP for assistance. Contact us today to take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation.
