The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released data from a new report that reveals a decrease in both the rate of new colorectal cancer diagnoses and deaths related to colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in the United States among cancers affecting both men and women. According to the CDC VitalSigns report, between 2003 and 2007, approximately 66,000 colorectal cancer cases were prevented and 32,000 people survived compared to statistics from 2002. It was indicated that half of these prevented cases and fatalities can be attributed to timely screening.
Timely colorectal cancer screening by colonoscopy provides the opportunity for the cancer to be found early when it is most responsive to treatment; therefore, significantly increasing a person’s chance of survival. During the screening process, colonic polyps and other suspicious lesions of the colon can be biopsied and evaluated to determine if they are cancerous or benign, in which case they would require follow-up and monitoring.
As of 2010, the CDC determined that as many as 1 in 3 adults between the ages of 50 and 75 are not receiving their recommended colorectal cancer screening.
Medical professionals are responsible for identifying patients who may have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer; including but not limited to: those with Crohn’s disease, certain genetic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, people with a history of polyps or family history of either polyps or colorectal cancer and adults over the age of 50.
If you were diagnosed with late stage colon or rectal cancer and believe that a medical professional failed to timely test for or diagnose your cancer diagnosis, you may have a meritorious basis to pursue a claim for medical negligence.
At Blume Forte, our New Jersey colorectal cancer delayed diagnosis attorneys have experience evaluating and prosecuting claims involving a failure to timely diagnose colon or rectal cancer. Call us at 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation.