One of the more commonly misdiagnosed forms of cancer is bladder cancer. It is particularly insidious because of its high rate of recurrence; patients often require multiple tests and follow-up treatments after the initial course of action. Many patients have surgery to remove the cancerous tumors, but people with an aggressive, invasive form of the disease may need to have their bladder removed completely – and even then, the cancer can return.
Edward Hines, a man who underwent treatment for bladder cancer in 2011 at the West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois. Hines had a tumor removed by Dr. Alan Sadah, who (according to the lawsuit) told Hines he was cancer-free. When the pathology report came back a week later, the tests showed that Hines still had bladder cancer. According to Amber Hines (daughter of Edward), Dr. Sadah never informed her father of the cancer, and Edward went an entire year without treatment. The lawsuit states that Edward Hines would have sought treatment much sooner had he known, and that his chances of survival would have increased.
Dr. Sadah and the medical center deny any negligence. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to court next year.
What you should know about bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is notorious for being misdiagnosed as something else. The most common symptom is blood in the urine, which can be misdiagnosed as a sign of a urinary tract infection, a kidney stone or even the result of strenuous exercise. Other symptoms include back and pelvic pain, or frequent or painful urination, all of which may be attributed to something else. Because of this, victims with bladder cancer may not see a doctor in a timely manner, or may be diagnosed with something else.
The Hines lawsuit revolves not around the tests which said that Hines had bladder cancer, but around whether or not Dr. Sadah failed to inform his patient that he still had cancer. If Dr. Sadah did not tell Edward Hines that his cancer was still present, he and the medical center should be held liable for negligence which contributed to Edward Hines’ death.
If you or a loved one was wrongly diagnosed as cancer free, please contact us. We can help.
