Negligent healthcare providers/facilities that have caused harm by diagnosing their patients late may be sued for medical malpractice. Cancer, when allowed to develop to its more advanced stages, poses a great risk for affected patients – making delayed diagnosis a valid grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Vaginal cancer accounts for a very small portion of all cancer cases in the US and is notably rare. In women, this disease accounts for 1% to 2% of all female genital tract cancers. It is more common in older women, with 67 being the average age of diagnosis.
Was Your Vaginal Cancer Diagnosed Late?
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Vaginal Cancer Misdiagnosis
In a recent study, it was found that missed cancer diagnoses often stem from errors made by primary physicians. These common errors include:
- Inaccurate diagnosis of symptoms and test results
- Failure to order necessary test procedures
- Failure to refer patients to respective specialists
Like most other cancers, symptoms of vaginal cancer are non-exclusive. This means that patients may be inclined to believe that the symptoms that they are experiencing are not urgent. While such personal factors also contribute to delayed diagnosis, doctors remain responsible for prescribing the correct medical route for their patients. With careful consideration, healthcare providers must realize the need to request necessary screening tests for vaginal cancer.
What Conditions Mimic Vaginal Cancer?
Symptoms for vaginal cancer do not always indicate the presence of the disease. In fact, its symptoms can often refer to other less severe conditions. Symptoms for vaginal cancer include (but are not limited to):
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding (often after sex)
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- A mass or lump in the vagina that can be felt
- Pain during sex
- Painful urination
- Constipation
- Pain in the pelvis or low in the belly
- Back pain
- Swelling in the legs
Unsuspecting medical providers can often misdiagnose vaginal cancer due to the ambiguity of these symptoms. Here are some less severe conditions that mimic symptoms of vaginal cancer:
| CONDITIONS | SIMILARITIES |
| Vaginal Yeast Infection | abnormal vaginal discharge and itching |
| Bacterial Vaginosis | abnormal vaginal discharge with a strong odor |
| Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) | painful urination, pelvic pain, and back pain |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) | pelvic pain, painful urination, and abnormal vaginal discharge |
| Uterine Fibroids | pelvic pain, back pain, constipation, and abnormal vaginal bleeding |
| Endometriosis | pelvic pain, painful intercourse, and abnormal vaginal bleeding |
| Vaginal Atrophy | painful intercourse and vaginal bleeding |
| Chlamydia | abnormal vaginal discharge and pelvic pain |
| Gonorrhea | abnormal vaginal discharge and pelvic pain |
| Vulvodynia | pain during intercourse and a burning sensation in the vulvar area |
Survival Rates for Vaginal Cancer
With a 5-year relative survival rate of 51% (all stages considered), vaginal cancer is among the more challenging cancers to treat. Naturally, cases diagnosed early have higher survivability compared to those diagnosed at later stages. Here are the per-stage survival rates of vaginal cancer as provided by the American Cancer Society:
| STAGE | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
| Localized (Stage 1 or 2) | 69% |
| Regional (Stage 3) | 57% |
| Distant (Stage 4) | 26% |
The disparity in these survival rates further emphasizes the importance of early detection when battling cancer. With these figures alone, we can better understand how negligent doctors endanger their patients through delayed diagnoses.
Treatment Options and Expenses
Treatments for vaginal cancer typically depend on the stage and type of the disease. More advanced cancers may require more aggressive complementary treatments, Some of the more conventional treatments include:
For pre-cancer stages, laser surgery and topical therapy may be prescribed.
With the need for complementary treatments, medical expenses for treating vaginal cancer can quickly pile up. According to the National Cancer Institute, US cancer patients would spend upwards of $200 billion for medical treatments starting 2020.
When estimating the annual spending of cancer patients, three distinct phases are acknowledged – initial care, continuing care, and end-of-life care. Given the lack of data on vaginal cancer spending, here’s the average annual spending for all cancers:
| Medical Services | Prescription Drugs | |
| Initial Care (1st year after diagnosis) | $43,516 | $1,874 |
| Continuing Care (time in between) | $5,518 per year | $1,041 per year |
| End-of-Life Care (last year before passing away) | $109,727 | $4,372 |
All medical expenses (past and future) are accounted for in all medical malpractice claims. Apart from medical bills, other economic and non-economic losses are also factored in – lost income, emotional trauma, and decreased quality of life are some of the more common inclusions. Please refer to our previous wins for actual cancer misdiagnosis compensation figures.
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Establishing Your Claim
Four key elements must first be pinpointed and established before any claim is rendered valid. Medical malpractice experts typically work with trusted medical consultants during this initial investigation. These four key elements are:
| Duty of Care – Was there an appropriate doctor-patient relationship? |
| Breach of Duty – Did your doctor perform poorly/negligently based on accepted standards of care? |
| Causation – Did your doctor’s actions/inactions directly cause you harm? |
| Damages – What did these errors cost you? |
Apart from establishing your claim, the responsibilities of your cancer malpractice lawyer include gathering pieces of evidence; officially filing your case; and negotiating for your compensation.
Speak to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
At the Porter Law Group, our team of proven medical malpractice lawyers delivers ideal results. We take pride in helping families rebuild after unfavorable circumstances. We operate on a contingency basis – meaning you do not need to pay us anything unless we win your case. Through this approach, we can better support families during their times of need.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, please reach out to us for a non-obligatory free case evaluation. You can also contact us at 833-PORTER9 or info@porterlawteam.com to schedule a consultation.
