Misdiagnosing Types of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
When a patient is diagnosed with leukemia, they may be facing some of the most difficult times of their life. This kind of cancer interferes with the development of healthy white blood cells. In particular, a form of leukemia known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia is relatively common compared to other types of blood cancers. However, physicians must correctly diagnose this type of leukemia, as slight variations can result in significantly different prognoses.
If your health has suffered because of a doctor’s failure to accurately diagnose your illness, a civil lawsuit can help you to recover financial compensation for additional medical bills and other damages. Contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130 for more information regarding your injury claim options.
Variations of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Considered the most common form of leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, develops when this cancer changes certain types of white blood cells. As a result, these cells do not produce antibodies to fight off infections. This cancer is normally a fairly slow developing type of cancer that can be easily diagnosed with a blood test. However, a negligent physician may misdiagnose this form of cancer. The following problems can occur:
- Missing a marker in diagnosis that drastically reduces survival time
- Misdiagnosing a case of the more aggressive B cell prolymphocytic leukemia
- Misdiagnosing a case of hairy cell leukemia
Leukemia cannot be cured, but can be treated appropriately. If physicians diagnose a case of leukemia correctly, they can work to fight the cancer with the most effective methods first.
Contact Us
If you have been diagnosed with the wrong type of leukemia that and your treatment options have been limited as a result, you may be entitled to pursue legal action. For more information, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., by calling 215-238-1130.