The survival rate for people with malignant melanoma is 99% - if the cancer is caught before the tumor penetrates the skin. The survival rate for people with advanced stage malignant melanoma drops to 15%. *Thus, for melanoma patients the misdiagnosis of cancer may not only require harder treatments but also may cost them a very real chance at survival.
What to Do When Melanoma is Diagnosed
When your melanoma is diagnosed the first thing to do is to speak to trusted doctors about a treatment plan. Typically, the more advanced the cancer is the harder the treatment and recovery may be for you. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and drug therapy depending on the stage at which your cancer is diagnosed and other factors.
What to Do When You Find Out Melanoma was Misdiagnosed
If a failure to diagnose melanoma caused your disease to progress, your treatment to become harder, and your chances of surviving to diminish, then it is important to talk to an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer.
In some cases, when your doctor’s failure to diagnose your cancer was due to negligence, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries. Damages may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket expenses and pain and suffering.
To learn more about your rights, we encourage you to read our FREE book: I Have Cancer, Should It Have Been Caught Earlier? and to call one of our experienced failure to diagnosis attorneys at 1.770.518.1133 for a free consultation.
*Source: The Skin Cancer Foundation, Skin Cancer Facts, Melanoma
Read More About The Misdiagnosis of Melanoma in our FREE Library article: Was Your Atlanta Melanoma Misdiagnosis Avoidable?