Man Find Out He Has Metastatic Prostate Cancer After Physician Ignored Abnormal Test Results

Man Find Out He Has Metastatic Prostate Cancer After Physician Ignored Abnormal Test Results

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This year about 14% of the 193,000 males who learn they have prostate cancer will already have advanced prostate cancer by the time the cancer is detected. With screening, including digital examinations and PSA blood tests, a number of these men might have been diagnosed before the cancer progressed to an advanced stage. A lapse of time until the cancer is advanced does not merely restrict the mans treatment options but also dramatically lowers his chances of surviving the cancer. Consider the following published case as an example.

While conducting a physical examination on a fifty-six year old male patient, a doctor noted a small nodule on the left side of the prostate. The doctor ordered a PSA test the results of which showed the level to be 3.1 - or within normal range. The doctor did nothing else at the time. Nearly three years passed before the doctor once more did a physical examination and records that the prostate is normal. This time, the doctor does not order a PSA test. The individual saw by a different doctor approximately 6 weeks later for an insurance mandated medical examination. This physician ordered a PSA test which comes back at 5.3. This is considered high. The man then contacted his regular doctors practice and was told to return so they can do their own PSA test. This test returned a 3.5 - in normal range. The doctor assured the man there was no need for worry or for additional follow up.

Again, nearly 3 years went by until the doctor next screened the patient. The physician again documents the nodule. The doctor then ordered a PSA test that came back at 4.7 - elevated. The doctor fails to inform the man and does nothing further regarding these two abnormal test results. Nearly 2 years later the physical examination shows that the prostate not only had a nodule, but was firm on the side of the nodule and was enlarged. The PSA test now revealed that the leve had risen to 14.1. This time, the doctor finally refers the patient to a Urologist who finds that the patient has stage 4 prostate cancer that had reached the bones in his pubic area and the upper section of his right leg.

An action for malpractice followed in the process of which the physician admitted that the existence of the nodule was an abnormal finding. The law firm that helped the man and his wife reported that the lawsuit was resolved for $850,000. This sum incorporated $250,000 for non-economic damages and $250,000 for the wifes future wrongful death claim - the maximum recoverable under the controlling law.

About the Author:
Joseph Hernandez is an attorney accepting medical malpractice cases. To learn about prostate cancer and other cancer matters including metastatic colon cancer visit the websites



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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