Michigan Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyers
Medical Malpractice Lawyers for Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis in Southfield, MI
When doctors misread the signs of lung cancer or delay testing, patients lose the opportunity for early diagnosis and better outcomes. At Lipton Law, our Michigan lung cancer misdiagnosis lawyers understand the toll these mistakes take on individuals and families. If you’re looking for a cancer misdiagnosis lawyer in Michigan, we represent patients whose lives have been altered by diagnostic errors involving missed or incorrect lung cancer diagnoses.
Lipton Law is a family-run law firm based in Southfield, serving clients across Michigan since 1964. With more than 100 years of combined legal experience, our team includes attorneys and in-house nurses who work together to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable. If you believe a delayed or missed diagnosis changed the course of your treatment, call (248) 557-1688 or reach out through our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer begins when abnormal cancer cells form in lung tissue and grow unchecked. It ranks as the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, outpacing cancers such as breast cancer, and treatment hinges on diagnosing cancer early. According to the American Cancer Society, early signs and symptoms of lung cancer, such as persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, chest pain, acid reflux, and shortness of breath, are frequently confused with more common conditions. Because of this, cancer misdiagnosis statistics show about 22% of lung cancer cases are missed or misdiagnosed.
When healthcare providers overlook the early signs of lung cancer, symptoms may be dismissed as unrelated or minor. A doctor might attribute acid reflux or coughing up blood to a non-serious cause instead of ordering the proper diagnostic tests. Chest x-rays, CT scans, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), and positron emission tomography (PET) are often necessary to identify the disease. For individuals with a smoking history or exposure to secondhand smoke, screening tests are especially important. When paired with lab work and imaging, these screenings can reveal suspicious tissue that might otherwise go undetected.
Detecting lung cancer before symptoms intensify improves chances of early diagnosis and allows treatment before the disease advances. When lung cancer is misdiagnosed or delayed for too long, the condition worsens and spreads. Lipton Law represents patients in missed lung cancer cases by identifying diagnostic errors and proving when providers failed to act on clear signs or order the right tests.
Common Types of Lung Cancer
Among the most commonly misdiagnosed types of cancer, lung cancer is frequently mistaken for less serious conditions. Most lung cancer cases fall into one of two categories. Small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Each requires different diagnostic tests and treatment approaches, making early and accurate diagnosis essential.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive subtype of lung cancer, making up about 13–15 percent of all lung cancer cases. It begins in neuroendocrine cells in the airways and almost always develops in people with a history of cigarette smoking, though even secondhand smoke exposure raises the risk significantly. While less common than small cell lung cancer, carcinoid tumors also arise from neuroendocrine cells and can sometimes be confused during diagnosis. This common cancer subtype multiplies rapidly and tends to spread early, making small cell lung cancer particularly dangerous.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancer cases and includes adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma arises in mucus‑producing epithelial cells, squamous cell carcinoma starts in the bronchial airway lining, and large cell carcinoma can appear in any lung area. Although NSCLC generally progresses more slowly than small cell lung cancer, it still represents a highly dangerous common cancer because it often spreads before symptoms appear.
Both forms can begin with common symptoms like shortness of breath, persistent cough, and chest pain, which can be misattributed to less severe respiratory conditions.
How Is Lung Cancer Misdiagnosed?
How often is cancer misdiagnosed? Research shows diagnostic errors occur in roughly 11 to 28 percent of all cancer diagnoses, with lung cancer being one of the most frequently missed types.
Doctors may overlook important risk factors, such as a patient’s family history, or misinterpret laboratory tests and chest radiographs. Imaging tests, including chest X-ray, CT scan, low-dose computed tomography, or positron emission tomography, may not be ordered when needed, or the results may be dismissed even when suspicious tissue appears.
Even when lung cancer screening occurs, a report may be downplayed, and a biopsy skipped. Some of these oversights stem from diagnostic errors or breakdowns in communication between healthcare providers.
These missteps in the diagnostic process can delay accurate diagnosis and limit treatment options for many patients.
Conditions that Can Be Mistaken For Lung Cancer
What can be mistaken for cancer? Conditions that can mimic lung cancer include:
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrow, causing recurring coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. According to the American Lung Association, there is no cure for asthma. Episodes may be triggered by allergens, exercise, or irritants, making airflow difficult and variable over time.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs’ air sacs (alveoli) that fills them with fluid or pus, often causing a cough, phlegm, fever, and difficulty breathing. It may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and can range from mild to severe depending on the individual’s health.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive lung condition, typically involving emphysema or chronic bronchitis, that restricts airflow and causes persistent coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness. It results from long-term irritation or damage to lung airways, most often due to cigarette smoking.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis refers to inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs, leading to a cough that frequently produces mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. It can be acute, lasting a few weeks, or chronic, especially when linked to tobacco smoke or irritant exposure.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which typically affects the lungs. In active cases, it can cause chronic cough, chest pain, fever, and unexplained weight loss. TB spreads through the air from person to person via cough or sneeze, and remains infectious until properly treated.
The Dangers of Lung Cancer Diagnosis Errors
When lung cancer is not identified in its early stages, the disease can progress unchecked. As cancer spreads, treatment becomes more invasive, less effective, and limited in scope. Missed opportunities for timely intervention many times mean the cancer is only found after it has reached an advanced stage, when curative options are no longer realistic.
Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy may still be used, but delayed treatment reduces their impact and increases the risk of complications. At this point, the chance of successful treatment declines sharply, and patients may shift from curative to palliative care.
The failure to diagnose early also places significant emotional and financial pressure on families. Medical expenses increase, urgent decisions must be made, and trust in providers is lost. Diagnosis errors can also cost patients the time they need most. Once that time is gone, so are many of their options.
Failure to Diagnose Lung Cancer
Failing to diagnose lung cancer represents a serious act of medical negligence. This failure may occur when primary care physicians dismiss worsening symptoms, ignore abnormal scan results, or do not refer the patient for timely specialist evaluation.
Healthcare providers have a duty to explore all possibilities when a patient presents with common symptoms of lung cancer, like persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or acid reflux. Legal action may be appropriate if a doctor failed to investigate warning signs or order the right tests. At Lipton Law, a Michigan missed diagnosis lawyer works with nurses and medical experts to determine how and when the mistake occurred.
Delayed Diagnosis of Lung Cancer
When lung cancer is not diagnosed early, the disease can progress quietly until it reaches advanced lung cancer, limiting the effectiveness of treatment and narrowing the available options. By the time care begins, the condition may already be at a more advanced stage, making it harder to control symptoms and reduce long-term complications.
Early detection through proper imaging, timely referrals, and follow-up testing is key to avoiding delays. As a delayed diagnosis lawyer in Michigan, Lipton Law reviews what steps were missed and builds claims that clearly show how earlier action could have prevented serious harm.
Misdiagnosis of Lung Cancer
Receiving the wrong cancer diagnosis, such as being told you have breast cancer or a benign lung condition, can lead to unnecessary procedures and missed opportunities for proper care. You might undergo the wrong surgery, take medications you don’t need, or lose the chance for curative treatment entirely.
Our Michigan medical misdiagnosis lawyer represents individuals in misdiagnosed lung cancer cases involving both mistaken identity and complete diagnostic failure. These errors are avoidable with proper lab tests, thorough imaging review, and clear protocols for diagnosing lung cancer.
Can You Sue for Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis in Michigan?
Yes. Patients harmed by a lung cancer misdiagnosis can file a claim through a lung cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit with the help of a Michigan personal injury attorney. Our firm builds cases that show a clear breach of the medical standard of care, supported by expert medical opinions.
This includes reviewing timelines, testing decisions, and failures to recognize lung cancer symptoms or act on abnormal results.
Types of Compensation for Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis in Michigan
If your case involves medical malpractice, you may be entitled to financial recovery reflecting the error’s full impact. Cancer misdiagnosis compensation amounts are influenced by how far the lung cancer advanced before detection and the extent of harm caused by the delay. Compensation may include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and loss of enjoyment of life
- Funeral expenses and wrongful death damages in fatal cases
Our attorneys evaluate every detail of your situation, including treatment history, prognosis changes, and long-term care needs, to determine what your case may be worth.
What Our Southfield, MI Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Do To Help
The answer to what is the cancer misdiagnosis claim process in Michigan begins with having the right legal team in place. A medical malpractice attorney in Southfield, MI, at Lipton Law handles every part of your case, from gathering medical records and test results to reviewing your prior medical history and consulting with independent specialists who can identify where diagnostic errors occurred.
We examine how multiple factors contributed to the delayed or missed diagnosis, including misread imaging tests, overlooked lab tests, or failure to refer to a specialist. Our attorneys prepare all legal filings, manage communication with insurers, and seek full compensation for injuries caused by medical negligence.
At Lipton Law, you’ll work with an experienced medical malpractice attorney who understands the legal and medical details of every cancer misdiagnosis case.
Why Choose Lipton Law for Your Lung Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim?
At Lipton Law, our firm’s history is rooted in decades of dedicated service to individuals and families harmed by medical negligence. We are a Michigan medical malpractice law firm that has served Southfield and the surrounding communities since 1964. As a family-run practice with more than 100 years of combined legal experience, we approach every case with personal attention and professional focus.
- We offer legal services on a contingency fee basis
- Every case includes support from attorneys and dedicated medical professionals
- We are trusted medical malpractice lawyers in Michigan who take the time to explain every step of your case
We don’t back down from hospitals, insurance companies, or negligent providers. When you work with us, you’re getting the guidance of a team that treats your claim like it matters, because it does.
Contact The Michigan Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyers at Lipton Law Today for a Free Consultation
If you believe you or someone you love has suffered harm due to a misdiagnosed or delayed lung cancer diagnosis, Lipton Law is here to help. Our team represents clients across Michigan in cancer misdiagnosis cases involving missed test results, diagnostic errors, and failures to act on clear warning signs.
Call (248) 557-1688 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation. Let an experienced attorney review your case, explain your options, and guide you through the next steps.
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