You may always hear stories about others being diagnosed with different forms and stages of cancer, but it is likely in your human nature to assume that it will never happen to you. This is why you may be completely in denial if you ultimately get a rather unheard-of cancer type, such as cervical cancer. This exclusively female cancer develops in the lower part of the utuerus connecting to the vagina. Well, with that being said, please follow along to find out the most common signs and symptoms and how a proficient New York City failure to diagnose cervical cancer lawyer at Mark L. Bodner, P.C., can bring justice to your situation.
What are the signs of cervical cancer I should look out for?
First of all, you should know that cervical cancer most commonly affects women over the age of 30, but it may still arise at any age. Then, it is primarily caused by persistent, long-lasting, high-risk types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections. But also, it may be prompted by other external factors such as participating in early sexual activity, having multiple sexual partners, having a weakened immune system, being a smoker, etc. Unfortunately, there may not be definitive, early signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. But as it progresses, you may pick up on the following:
- You may notice abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- You may experience pain during sexual intercourse.
- You may experience unexplainable pelvic pain.
- You may have pain or difficulty with urination.
- You may notice your legs are noticeably swollen.
- You may be chronically fatigued or have a loss of appetite.
What are the consequences of a missed or delayed cervical cancer diagnosis?
To reiterate, early detection is rather rare for cervical cancer. But if you believe predisposed to this cancer type, you must make a vigilant effort to ask your medical professional for routine pap smear tests and HPV tests. These tests may screen for precancerous changes in this area of the body and, thus, afford you the privilege of early intervention.
Most unfortunately, though, your attending medical professional may miss these signs in your tests or otherwise disregard your requests for these tests or your raised concerns about your unusual signs and symptoms. When this happens, you may have no choice but to submit to more invasive procedures to fight off the rapidly spreading cancer cells. This may, in turn, signficiantly diminish your quality of life.
This is not to mention you are now at a higher risk of not surviving this cancer. And even if you luckily beat it, you may be left with hefty medical bills and more devastating lost wages that would have otherwise been easily avoidable. All of this to say, a missed or delayed cervical cancer diagnosis is typically more than enough grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against your negligent medical professional.
If you need help with executing this, do not be afraid to reach out to a talented New York City diagnosis error attorney. Our team at Mark L. Bodner, P.C. is more than capable and eager to assist you in your upcoming legal proceedings.