What is Leukemia?
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It starts in cells that would normally become blood cells, usually white blood cells. This cancer can be acute (fast-growing) or chronic (slower-growing). There are different kinds of leukemia, and knowing the specific type helps predict the outlook and determine the best treatment methods.
Types of Leukemia:
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (most common type)
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Leukemia stages are not uniform. They are classified as either active, in remission, or recurrent. Survival rates may vary for each type of leukemia, but the general relative 5-year survival rate according to the SEER database is 66.7%.
There were about 59,000 cases of leukemia in the US in 2023, which resulted in over 23,000 deaths. It represents 3% of all cancers diagnosed in the US and is more common in adults than in children. It is also slightly more common in men than in women and primarily causes death in people aged 75-84.
There is no standard screening process for leukemia, but it can be found early through diagnostic tests such as:
- Blood tests (CBC and peripheral blood smear)
- Bone marrow tests (aspiration and biopsy)
- Laboratory tests (cytochemistry)
- Chromosome tests
- Imaging tests
Testing can differ based on what kind of leukemia is suspected, but when leukemia is found, it is important to act quickly. The longer you wait, the more severe the cancer treatments can get. The following treatment options are available for leukemia:
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted Drug Therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Stem Cell Transplants
Leukemia symptoms vary according to type, but the following are the most common symptoms:
- Fevers and chills
- Chronic fatigue
- Recurring infections
- Unexplained weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Small red spots on the skin
- Night sweats
- Bone pain and sensitivity
What Can I Do if I was Misdiagnosed or Diagnosed Late with Leukemia in New York?
Seek a medical malpractice attorney for legal advice if you’ve been misdiagnosed or diagnosed late. Doctors have state-of-the-art tools to diagnose leukemia at the early stages. Diagnostic and treatment tools have significantly improved, resulting in a decrease in death rate by up to 2% every year from 2011-2020.
But there are still cases where doctors either fail to order the appropriate tests, order tests but do not read the results, or fail to interpret test results correctly. This sort of medical malpractice can have devastating effects, especially if leukemia is acute.
If you or a loved one have been misdiagnosed or diagnosed late with leukemia in the state of New York due to your doctor’s negligence, contact the Porter Law Group. We can evaluate your case for free.
Can I Sue for Medical Malpractice if I was Diagnosed Late with Leukemia in New York?
Patients may be eligible to sue medical staff if their leukemia is diagnosed late. However, medical negligence cases are complex, especially in the state of New York. Not only do you need to comply with the daunting documentary and filing requirements, but you also need to be aware of the statute of limitations within which you are allowed to bring your claim.
It is not enough to show that you’ve been injured. You must establish that there was a doctor-patient relationship and that your doctor deviated from the expected standard of care for patients with similar conditions. And that this deviation was the proximate cause of the injury suffered. You also need a medical expert to examine your case and see if your leukemia should have been diagnosed sooner, and testify for you.
The medical malpractice lawyers at Porter Law Group have secured millions of dollars* for patients whose cancer was diagnosed late in New York. We work with medical experts in the field who can review your tests and medical records, and see if your doctor deviated from the expected standard of care. And our experienced trial lawyers stand ready to bring your case forward, and get you and your family the answers, and the financial compensation you deserve.
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 also suffered from cancer. 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.
