Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

Cervical cancer is one of the more common forms of cancer and is routinely identified and treated before it can develop into a more aggressive form. However, despite the fact that cervical cancer is one of few cancers with a high rate of positive patient outcomes (thanks to the development of early diagnosis tools and procedures), medical errors still occur. In fact, if a healthcare professional misdiagnoses or otherwise negligently delays diagnosis of the cancer, then it may become difficult to treat. If left uncontrolled, cervical cancer can lead to severe injuries and even death. You need a skilled delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer lawyer in Pittsburgh, PA on your side to get the compensation you deserve.

At Matzus Law, LLC, Pittsburgh cancer misdiagnosis attorney Jason Matzus has more than two decades of experience successfully litigating delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis in cases involving cervical cancer. With the aid of dedicated medical experts, medical malpractice attorney Jason Matzus will develop a sound litigation strategy for pursuing full compensation for your medical malpractice claims.

For answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania medical malpractice claims for delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer, see the Matzus Law, LLC delayed diagnosis FAQ page.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer results from the growth of cancerous cells in the cervix of a woman. Generally, cervical cancers are caused by HPV, a sexually transmitted virus. If left untreated, cervical cancer cells can quickly spread into the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other reproductive and nonreproductive areas. Once the cancer reaches the lymph nodes, it can easily spread to other systems in the body.

Symptoms of cervical cancer range from mild to severe and may include:

  • Vaginal bleeding and discharge that occurs between periods of menstruation
  • Pain in the lower body, such as stomach, pelvis, uterine, and lower back pain
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Fertility issues

Delayed Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is diagnosed through what is known as a Pap smear test. In today’s medical industry, Pap smears are regularly administered and healthcare professionals are well-trained in identifying the presence of cervical cancer early.

Though the process of diagnosing cervical cancer has been systemized, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can still occur due to a healthcare professional’s negligence. Negligent acts may include:

  • Failing to order a Pap smear test
  • Misreading the results of a Pap smear test
  • Waiting too long to order a Pap smear test
  • Failure to begin treatment of the cervical cancer after it has been identified
  • Misdiagnosing the symptoms as some other disease

Pittsburgh, PA medical malpractice attorney Jason Matzus knows exactly how to approach cervical cancer delayed diagnosis cases to improve your chances for success and maximize compensation. He also understands that the injuries can be devastating and can have lifelong negative effects.

Injured and Have Questions?

Effects of delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of cervical cancer include:

  • Fertility complications, or even the loss of fertility, due to uterus damage
  • Irreversible damage to the reproductive system
  • Extensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy that would not otherwise have been necessary
  • Surgical removal of affected organs due to advancement of the cervical cancer

Talcum Powder Cervical Cancer Lawsuit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Talcum powder has been known to cause health problems in women, specifically the development of cervical cancer. Talcum powder is a product that millions of women use for various reasons, including to help absorb moisture on the body. Women who use talcum powder to absorb moisture typically do so in the area of their thighs. It helps reduce friction and prevents rashes, but it can also cause health issues if it gets into the body via the genitals. There has been talk of a link between talcum powder usage and the development of cancer, especially since some powders include asbestos, a cancer-causing material.

Why You Must Hire a Pittsburgh Cervical Cancer Lawsuit Attorney

Being diagnosed with cervical cancer changes your life in an instant. There are a host of things that you will want to take care of and plenty of questions that need to be answered. How did you develop cancer? Will the treatments help fight the disease? How tired will I be following radiation or chemotherapy treatments? One question that you need to focus on is how you developed cancer. An experienced attorney will be able to investigate the reasons you might have developed cervical cancer.

A delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer lawyer in Pittsburgh, PA has the experience and knowledge necessary to handle any investigation into your cancer diagnosis. The lawyer will be able to look into possible causes of your cancer, especially if it might have been caused by talcum powder. Talcum powder has been known to lead to cervical cancer across the country. Some of these cases have netted victims millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries, both physical and emotional.

Consult with an Experienced Pittsburgh Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney Today

Here at Matzus Law, LLC, our staff includes an experienced attorney and medical professionals. We believe that effective litigation of medical negligence lawsuits requires extensive legal and medical knowledge. That’s why we have a physician assistant on staff to assess patient medical records. We also work with top-tier medical experts to determine the extent and nature of the damages caused by the defendant’s negligence.

If you have suffered injuries due to a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of cervical cancer in Pennsylvania, you may be entitled to recover damages as compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and various other losses. Call Matzus Law, LLC, or fill out the online contact form, to arrange a free consultation with a delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer lawyer in Pittsburgh, PA today.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cervical Cancer

What are common examples of negligence in cancer malpractice cases?


Can a delay in diagnosing cancer be malpractice?

What are the risks of a delayed cervical cancer diagnosis?

A delay in diagnosing cervical cancer is one of the most tragic types of cancer malpractice cases because if detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable and curable cancers. By delaying the diagnosis or missing the diagnosis entirely, cervical cancer can be allowed to spread to other parts of the patient’s body and eliminate the patient’s chance of cure or survival.

Cervical cancer can often be found early, and sometimes even prevented by having regular screening tests.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer starts in the cells lining the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus. Most cervical cancers begin in the cells in the area referred to as the “transformation zone.”

Cells in the transformation zone do not suddenly change into cancer overnight. The normal cells gradually develop abnormal changes that are called pre-cancerous changes. These precancerous cells are checked in the lab and graded on a scale of 1 to 3 based upon how much of the cervical tissue is abnormal. For example, in Grade 1, not much of the tissue looks abnormal, and it is considered the least serious cervical pre-cancer. In grade 2 or 3 (Sin 2 or Sin 3) more of the tissue looks abnormal and grade 3 is the most serious pre-cancer grade. Only some women with pre-cancers of the cervix go on to develop cervical cancer. If the doctor timely diagnoses a cervical pre-cancer, treating it can prevent almost all cervical cancers from developing.

The goal of cervical cancer screening is to find pre-cancer or actual cancer at its earliest stages, when it’s most treatable and most curable. In short, regular cancer screenings can prevent cervical cancers and save lives.

What types of tests are used to screen for cervical cancer?

The 2 primary tests for cervical cancer screening are the HPV test and the PAP test.

What are the different types of cervical cancer?

Cervical cancers are classified by how they look under the microscope in the lab. The main types of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Approximately 90% or 9 out of 10 cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Most of the other cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas.

What should I do if I think there was a delay in my diagnosis of cervical cancer?

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cervical cancer, and believe that there was a delay in diagnosing your cervical cancer or the doctor missed diagnosing your cervical cancer earlier in time, please call my law firm, Matzus Law. We will be happy to speak with you and learn more about your situation and investigate a potential claim to determine if there was a preventable delay in diagnosing your cervical cancer on your behalf.