Malpractices for Failure to Diagnose Melanoma

Melanoma, in its early stages, is among the simplest forms of cancer to treat. Patients enjoy a rate of survival that is high, and receive immediate treatment.

Personal injury attorneys specializing in melanoma can represent clients in the state who aren’t as fortunate, because of physicians neglecting to fulfill on the onset the recommended testing of symptoms to confirm or rule out a diagnosis that’s accurate.

The survival rate is crucially decreased when melanoma progresses past the second stage. Patients must endure more excruciating treatments because of the cancer spread.

The fifth most typical cancer among males, and the seventh among females, melanoma is vastly treatable when discovered during its early stages.

This is fortunate for individuals who are concerned about the cancer, and the survival rate of those who suffer from the disease.

The ten year rate of survival among individuals treated for melanoma is nearly 90%. This includes individuals whose melanoma has progressed to subsequently late stages.

In the United States, with this in mind, it is the most fatal cancer, representing nearly 10,000 annual deaths, with merely 2% of cases.

This is because during the later stages, once melanoma has progressed, the cancer becomes essentially incurable.

Four stages of the melanoma cancer are the following:

Stage 1 is the initial stage of melanoma, which occurs when cancerous cells are identifiable, but remain on the epidermis’ outer layer.

There is a very slight chance, during Stage 1, for melanoma to spread, and for patients diagnosed is 98% at the five year survival rate.

The melanoma cancer has progressed to Stage 2 once the disease has permeated any skin.

Melanoma, at this point, has increased in density and thickness, and emerged into the dermis, a tissue layer which is below the epidermis.

Patients of Stage 2 usually see 98% of a survival rate, while any chance of spread of the cancer is slightly higher than Stage 1.

For Stage 3, there is great pause for concern when cancer cells extend to the lymphatic system. This is due to the cancer cells mobilizing in the lymphatic system, and being carried to various areas of the human body.

Reducing the rate of survival to a little over 60%, melanoma which has extended to a lymph node is more apt to metastasize.

Stage 4 is the most severe of the four stages. It is the result of cancer cells moving into a bloodstream, where the cells can infiltrate the bones, gastrointestinal tract, liver, brain, or lungs.

It is an extreme challenge to treat melanoma at Stage 4 due to the ability in a short period to move to multiple organs.

A mere 16% of patients with this melanoma cancer diagnosis will live five years after acquiring the news.

When physicians sweep the symptoms under the proverbial rug, or accomplish nothing to dismiss a diagnosis, and at later stages the cancer progresses, it is crucial to hold them liable for the consequences of their recklessness.

Contact us for a free consultation or call Anzalone Law Firm PLLC, at: 603.548.3797