What is Skin Melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of cancer that usually develops in the sun-exposed areas of the skin. While it accounts for only 1% of all skin cancers, it causes the most deaths among skin cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, around 100,000 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed, resulting in around 8,000 deaths.
Melanoma is less common than basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. But it has a higher chance of spreading if left untreated. There is no standard screening protocol for melanoma of the skin, but it can be caught early because of easily visible symptoms.
Melanoma symptoms may include:
- Unusual moles
- Sores that don’t heal
- Lumps
- Blemishes
- Markings
- Changes in the way skin looks and feels
- Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into the surrounding skin
- Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of the mole
Doctors recommend using regular skin self-exams for patients with increased melanoma risk. Those with unusual moles (nevi), a family history of melanoma, and weakened immune systems should immediately consult a dermatologist if they experience any of the above symptoms.
There are tests for diagnosing skin melanoma, which may include the following:
- Dermoscopy
- Skin Biopsy
- Imaging Tests (CT scan, MRI, PET scan)
- Blood tests
Doctors have access to state-of-the-art tools that can help detect melanoma of the skin early. This is crucial because according to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rates for melanoma in the regional and localized stages are 74% – 99%. However, once melanoma reaches the distant stage and infects other organs, the survival rate drops to only 35%. And the more advanced the cancer gets, the more intense the treatments required will be.
There are several available treatments for melanoma:
- Surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted Drug Therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
Once the signs and symptoms are present, your general care physician should refer you to a dermatologist for a more accurate assessment. So that if melanoma is found, treatment can be planned and started as early as possible.
What Can I Do if I was Misdiagnosed or Diagnosed Late with Melanoma in New York?
Seek a medical malpractice attorney for legal advice if you’ve been misdiagnosed or diagnosed late. If you or a loved one have been misdiagnosed or diagnosed late with melanoma due to your doctor’s negligence in New York, call the Porter Law Group. Our experienced trial lawyers and medical experts can evaluate your case for free and see if you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice.
The lawyers at Porter Law Group have secured millions of dollars* for victims of medical malpractice in New York. We can recover compensation for you if your doctors fail to adhere to the expected standard of care for patients diagnosed with melanoma. We also work with board-certified medical experts who can review your medical history and test results, and testify that your cancer should have been caught sooner.
Can I Sue for Medical Malpractice if I was Diagnosed Late if Melanoma in New York?
Patients may be eligible to sue medical staff if their melanoma is diagnosed late. However, medical negligence cases are complex, especially in New York. You need to navigate the daunting documentary and filing requirements and be aware of the statute of limitations within which to bring your claim. You also need the testimony of a medical expert, who can confirm that your melanoma should have been diagnosed sooner, were it not for your doctor’s medical negligence.
It is not enough to show that you’ve been injured to receive financial compensation for medical malpractice. Not all cases of late diagnosis are considered medical negligence. You need to show that there was a doctor-patient relationship, that there was a deviation from the expected standard of care for people with similar conditions. And that this deviation was the proximate cause of your injury.
The Porter Law Group has a proven track record of delivering results for victims of medical negligence due to late cancer diagnosis in New York. We work with experts in the medical field who can evaluate your case. They can testify if your melanoma was diagnosed late due to your doctor’s medical negligence and that this has caused you undue harm, lowered your survival chances, or increased your financial burdens. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers stand ready to bring your case forward, and get you and your family the answers, and 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.
