Ovarian and Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis

Ovarian and Cervical Cancer Statistics

In 2021, approximately 21,410 women will have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the first time. Roughly 13,770 women will have died from this disease. ⁽¹⁾

In 2021, approximately 14,480 women will have been diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer for the first time. Roughly 4,290 women will have died from this disease. ⁽²⁾

NYC Ovarian Cancer Statistics

In New York City (NYC), the incidence of ovarian cancer goes up as women get older. The disease is fairly rare for those younger than 45. The highest rates are for women between 55 and 69 years of age. Out of 100,000, approximately 70 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. ⁽³⁾

Death rates for ovarian cancer also increase as women in NYC get older. For women in their mid to late 50s, approximately 32 women out of 100,000 die from ovarian cancer each year. The rate goes up noticeably for women 65 to 79 years of age, to roughly 50 deaths annually. The number of deaths for women older than 79 actually goes down, to roughly 32 to 39 each year. ⁽⁴⁾

NYC Cervical Cancer Statistics

In NYC, the incidence rate of cervical cancer diagnosis has varied from 51 to 83 new cases per year for the past 10 years. The highest numbers were 83 in 2013 and 78 in 2015. ⁽⁵⁾

Also for the past 10 years, 27 or fewer NYC women have died in a given year from cervical cancer. The least was 11 in 2015. The most was 27 in 2013 and 2016. All rates are per 100,000. ⁽⁶⁾

Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer originates in a woman’s ovaries. The danger with ovarian cancer is the symptoms, if any, can also be symptoms of other medical conditions. Plus, there are no ways to screen for this type of cancer. ⁽⁷⁾

Over 75% “of ovarian cancer patients aren’t diagnosed until the cancer has become advanced. Survival rates are low: Just 47 percent of patients survive five or more years.” ⁽⁸⁾

Detecting Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer can be detected through screening. Because of this, cervical cancer may be preventable. An annual Pap smear sample can reveal precancerous changes in a woman’s cervix (dysplasia). Routine pelvic exams are part of this process. ⁽⁹⁾

When cervical cancer is discovered early, it can often be treated successfully with minimally invasive approaches. ⁽¹⁰⁾

However, “sometimes errors are made in the interpretation of Pap smear results. These mistakes can potentially allow the cancer to go undetected, spread to the uterus and ovaries and progress to the point that more aggressive treatment, such as a hysterectomy, becomes necessary.” ⁽¹¹⁾

Factors Leading to Ovarian and Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis

Even though routine Pap smears are intended to catch cervical cancer early, errors can occur. Possible errors leading to a cancer misdiagnosis include: ⁽¹²⁾

• Clinician error during the specimen collection.
• Lab errors in interpreting or reporting results.
• Physician failure to recommend adequate follow up testing on abnormal results.

Ovarian cancer can be misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, a urinary tract infection (UTI), or even menopausal changes. Initially, there may be no symptoms.

Or, you may notice: ⁽¹³⁾

• Abdominal bloating or swelling.
• Quickly feeling full when you’re eating.
• Weight loss.
• Discomfort in your pelvic area.
• Fatigue.
• Back pain.
• Changes in your bowel habits, such as constipation.
• A frequent need to urinate.

Risks of Misdiagnosis

The earlier cervical or ovarian cancer is diagnosed, the better off you are. Early stages of cancer typically mean it is localized. Surrounding tissues may be left undamaged and intact. ⁽¹⁴⁾

The more advanced your ovarian or cervical cancer, likely the more invasive it is. Your cancer may have spread not only to surrounding tissue but also to other organs and tissues throughout your body. Possible treatments and diagnostic tools are more expensive and invasive. You may need X-rays, CTs, MRIs, and PET scans. ⁽¹⁵⁾

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may also be necessary treatments for advanced forms of cancer. In extreme cases, you may need to have your reproductive organs removed. ⁽¹⁶⁾

In worst-case scenarios, your cancer may be so advanced it has metastasized to other parts of your body. You could die from cervical or ovarian cancer. ^{(17) (18)}

Proving Medical Malpractice

To prove medical malpractice, a patient has to show the medical provider owed a duty to the patient, the provider breached the duty, the breach resulted in injury to the patient, and the injury resulted in damages.

Medical providers do owe a duty to their patients. Your doctors may have breached their duty of care because you had ovarian or cervical cancer and was misdiagnosed. If you were seriously hurt, or a loved one died, you may be entitled to sue for compensation.

How W&L Can Help

If so, and your misdiagnosis occurred in New York state, you need to seek guidance from an attorney in New York. Select a firm where the attorneys handle a lot of lawsuits for medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. You need someone with experience and a proven record of winning.

Weitz & Luxenberg is such a firm. Here are a few examples of our success in representing clients injured due to medical professionals’ errors, misdiagnoses, and malpractice:

• $500,000 settlement — After having an IUD implanted in her uterus, a woman developed a uterine infection. Countless misdiagnoses, botched surgical procedures, debilitating complications, and a life-threatening infection later, the woman nearly died. She now lives with an irreparably damaged uterus and lifelong medical problems.
• $1.1 million settlement — A 70-year-old man died from complications linked to colon cancer. His doctor failed to tell him the diagnosis until it had advanced to stage 4 and treatment was too late.
• $2.2 million settlement — Shortly after a tonsillectomy, a woman was having difficulty swallowing and developed a sore throat. She was misdiagnosed at an ER and treated for the wrong medical condition. Within just two days, she died because her surgical wound ruptured.
• $2.35 million settlement — A young mother taking steroids for arthritis reported to an ER with symptoms of pancreatitis. She sought help from multiple hospitals, was misdiagnosed multiple times as her condition worsened, and, ultimately, died of sepsis.