You felt unwell for a significant amount of time, and you went to the doctor several times for tests. It wasn’t until you finally pushed for a blood test and MRI that the doctor finally reported unusual test results. After additional testing, you discovered you had been living with cancer.

There is nothing more horrible than finding out you have cancer and that a misdiagnosis has allowed it to continue to worsen. What may have been treatable at one time is now more difficult than ever to eliminate. It may even mean you’re unable to do anything to lessen the pain you’re going through.

Approximately one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lives. Most won’t find out they have breast cancer until long after they should have, which means that it will have progressed further than it should have and be more difficult to treat.

Doctors owe patients a duty of care. They need to perform procedures within the expected specifications of the medical community. A doctor who is not educated properly or who fails to order the correct tests for a diagnosis puts his or her patients at risk of serious injuries or death.

If a doctor has failed you and misdiagnosed you due to negligence or errors, it’s important to know your legal rights. As a patient, you can seek compensation for the errors that have resulted in further pain and suffering. Additionally, you have the right to pursue compensation for things like medical bills and lost wages, so you can focus on your health and continued recovery.

Source: FindLaw, “Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis: When to Sue,” Christopher Coble, accessed Aug. 11, 2017