The 5-year relative survival rates are comparisons between people with the same type and stage of cancer and the general population who do not have cancer. If the 5-year survival rate is, for example, 20%, that means that people who have a specific type of cancer are 20% as likely as healthy people to live for the next 5 years after being diagnosed.
Diagnosed With Adrenal Cancer Late?
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The American Cancer Society uses the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to provide survival statistics for different types of cancer. SEER tracks 5-year relative survival rates for adrenal cancer in the US based on how far the cancer has spread. Unlike the regular stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, etc groupings, SEER classifies cancer according to the following stages:
Localized | No signs of the cancer spreading outside the adrenal gland |
Regional | Cancer has spread outside the adrenal gland to nearby lymph nodes and other structures |
Distant | Cancer has spread to other organs of the body and distant lymph nodes |
The following are the 5-year relative survival rates for adrenal cancer based on data from 2012-2018:
| Localized | 73% |
| Regional | 53% |
| Distant | 38% |
| All SEER stages combined | 50% |
It is important to consider the following when interpreting these numbers:
If cancer is caught early, you can expect a better survival and recovery rate. There can be a great difference between relative survival rates when the diagnosis is at the localized stage versus the regional and advanced stages.
However, it is difficult to diagnose adrenal cancer early because of its rarity and the lack of established screening protocols. Doctors may never meet a patient with adrenal cancer during their training, and this lack of experience may not make them sensitive to the incredibly subtle tells of early adrenal cancer. Adrenal cancer also shares symptoms with many other diseases, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause. These cancers are usually tucked at the very back of the abdomen, with the smaller tumors often being benign.
The fact alone that you were diagnosed late may not be a sufficient cause of action for a lawsuit. Suing for medical malpractice is complicated, especially in states like New York, where not all injuries suffered after treatment amount to medical malpractice that can justify financial compensation. The laws in New York require the plaintiff to prove that there is causation between the negligence of the doctor and the injury suffered. The negligence must be the actual cause of the injury and not a product of mere incidence. This can be very hard to do because it requires both extensive experience and legal knowledge, as well as medical knowledge.
But if you believe that your adrenal cancer was worsened due to delayed diagnosis by a healthcare provider who was not operating under the accepted standards of medical care, and this has caused or contributed to your pain, suffering, or decreased recovery chances, call the Porter Law Group. Our team of experienced lawyers knows the ins and outs of the Medical Malpractice field in New York. We can help you navigate the long and complicated requirements and deadlines so that you can focus on the things that truly matter, your family, and your recovery. Our longstanding relationship with the top medical practitioners in the field also gives us access to the services of dedicated specialists who will review your case and help us determine if you and your family can indeed be compensated for the damages you've suffered.
Doctors have a responsibility to provide adequate care and promptly examine all possible options thoroughly with their patients. If not, they could be guilty of medical negligence.
This is when a medical provider diagnoses a cancer patient with a disease other than cancer. This results in a patient not only losing resources for undergoing the wrong treatments but also in a delay in the necessary cancer treatment, which actively worsens the condition.
This is when a healthcare provider fails to diagnose cancer in its early stages. It can lead to the patient requiring more intense treatment options, which not only increases the cost but like with the common radiation therapy, subjects the patient to more pain and potential side effects that would have been unnecessary had the cancer been detected earlier.
This is when a patient who does not have cancer is improperly diagnosed with cancer. This can lead to a patient undergoing surgery and radiation therapy, both costly and potentially life-threatening treatments, when they didn’t even have the disease to begin with.
If you or a loved one believe your healthcare provider misdiagnosed or delayed your adrenal cancer diagnosis, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain, discomfort, and decreased chances of survival.
If you or a loved one have suffered from a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis for your adrenal cancer, contact us at 833-PORTER9, or e-mail us at info@porterlawteam.com to discuss the details of our experience representing other clients and the results we were able to obtain in the past for clients who are suffering as you are. In many ways, our results speak for themselves, and we will stand ready to help you and your family in your time of greatest need.
