Our New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys are currently working on behalf of a victim of failure to diagnose prostate cancer. The patient, a 48-year-old man from Bergen County, suffered harm as a result of a urologist’s failure to diagnose and treat prostate cancer following a routine vasectomy.
In this case, the victim underwent a vasectomy, which is a medical procedure used as a permanent form of birth control. A vasectomy typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes and can be performed by a urologist, a general practitioner, or a general surgeon. During the procedure, the vas deferens from each testicle is cut, clamped, or sealed to prevent the penis from releasing sperm when a man ejaculates. The intention of a vasectomy is to prevent an egg from being fertilized during intercourse by permanently removing sperm in the semen. In other words, ejaculation remains the same, but the semen is without the necessary sperm for fertilization. Many married couples use vasectomy as a method of birth control after having children, as it is 99.85% effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy.
The risk of complications associated with vasectomy is extremely low. While you may have some minimal discomfort and swelling, it generally resolves within a few days and you can resume your regular activities. For our client, he presented with symptoms unrelated to the vasectomy, and yet his urologist failed to order tests, examine, diagnose, or treat these symptoms. He was ultimately diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a highly dangerous form of cancer, as prevalent as it is deadly. In fact, prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer among Americans and the second leading cause of cancer death. Prostate cancer is quite unique, in that it has a very high survival rate (87 percent of prostate cancer patients enter remission or are cured entirely); however, it also has the potential to cause swift death if the cancer is left undiagnosed and untreated.
The symptoms of prostate cancer can vary from patient to patient, but some of the most common symptoms include:
- Difficulty urinating (especially at night)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain in the back, chest, or hips
- Numbness of weakness in the legs or feet
If any of the above symptoms exist, doctors have several tests available to confirm or rule-out a prostate cancer diagnosis. The most frequently-used diagnostic tool in prostate cancer screening is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which evaluates the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a man’s semen and blood. As PSA increases, the patient’s risk for developing prostate cancer increases accordingly. Most men without prostate cancer have PSA levels under 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. With a PSA level above 4, doctors should order a biopsy of the prostate to detect the presence of cancer.
What Happens when Prostate Cancer is Undiagnosed
Our client underwent a routine vasectomy in in November of 2013. In January of 2014, he began experiencing symptoms unrelated to the procedure, including low volume ejaculation, decreased libido, and loss of sensation. His doctor indicated that this was not a result of the vasectomy. The symptoms persisted and he returned to the urologist in May, at which time a PSA test revealed that his PSA was out of range. However, the physician did not order a biopsy or any additional testing. After a year of worsening symptoms, the patient was seen by another doctor, who ordered an MRI and determined that he may have prostate cancer. The man was subsequently referred to an oncologist for a biopsy, which revealed that cancer had developed in 90 to 100 percent of every quadrant of the prostate. His symptoms were caused by a mass that was impinging on the seminal vessel. Doctors performed surgery to remove his prostate in July 2015, but the cancer had already spread to one lymph node and his bladder. Our client is currently undergoing aggressive treatment to combat a cancer that was allowed to proliferate for far too long.
This case is a tragic example of medical negligence, which allowed prostate cancer to progress and become more life-threatening, causing catastrophic harm to an innocent man and his family. When this devastating scenario occurs, victims have the right to pursue justice. At Fronzuto Law Group, our medical malpractice lawyers advocate for victims across New Jersey who have suffered injuries as a result of cancer misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose cancer. In fact, with a practice concentrated on medical malpractice, we have the knowledge and resources to tackle the most complex cases involving breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer, and many others. If you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice involving cancer diagnosis, contact our North Jersey offices today at 973.435.4551 to discuss your specific case and learn more about your legal options.
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