National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: The Importance Of Early Diagnosis

It seems there is an occasion to raise awareness to almost every medical condition, so it stands to reason that the third most common cancer diagnosed among men and women in the US would also get its turn. March 2022 is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, an event dedicated to reminding all about the importance of screening and understanding risk factors, particularly among those with notable family history. In 2022, more than 106,000 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer, and there will be almost 45,000 new cases of rectal cancer. Experts also predict that around 52,580 people will die from these conditions.

The importance of screening cannot be emphasized enough, but it is up to Florida health care providers to guide you in detecting, testing, and treating colorectal cancer. Negligence could lead to delayed diagnosis or failure to diagnose colorectal cancer, which means you do not get the care you need to beat the disease. A look at the data should help you understand the urgency of a prompt diagnosis. 

Colorectal Cancer Statistics and Staging 

One of the most impactful figures reported by the event’s organizers, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA), is that the rate of people being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancers has been dropping since the 1980s. For instance:

• There are now more than 1.5 people living in the US who are survivors of colorectal cancer.
• The incidence rates for both colon and rectal cancers dipped around 1 percent each year from 2013 to 2017.
• Despite the overall decrease, health care providers remain concerned about how colorectal cancers affect certain age groups. Deaths among patients 50 to 64 years old increased 1 percent every year from 2008 to 2017, and there was an increase of 2 percent per year for those under 50 years old.

CCA attributes the positive trends to more individuals getting screened, which leads to removal of precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer. Plus, early detection is important for treatment and encouraging lifestyle changes among those with risk factors.

Basics of a Claim for Failure to Diagnose Cancer 

When undetected or not diagnosed until later stages, these cancers can grow through the wall of the colon or rectum. Eventually, the cancer can affect surrounding tissues and organs, becoming terminal. Knowing that screening leads to better patient outcomes, physicians should order appropriate testing based upon medical history, age, and risk factors.

A failure to diagnose cancer may provide grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim. Under Florida law, you must prove that your doctor departed from the relevant standard of care. Not ordering important screenings could be such a deviation in some cases. However, med mal cases are very fact-specific, so it is wise to talk to an attorney if you have concerns about your circumstances.

Discuss Failure to Diagnose Cancer with a Florida Medical Malpractice Lawyer 

For more information on your rights and remedies for a cancer misdiagnosis case, please contact the Miami failure to diagnose cancer lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. We can schedule a complimentary case review at our offices. After assessing your situation, we can advise you on your legal options.

Resource:

ccalliance.org/about/awareness-month?gclid=CjwKCAiAg6yRBhBNEiwAeVyL0M5QpOelOfWe6y2-5hcFi4jS_HU31wBR_e0rxFmHObGLm-3x_azMIxoCG-0QAvD_BwE