Top Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawsuit Settlements in California

When cancer is caught early, treatment can sometimes stop it before it spreads. When it’s missed, every month without the proper diagnosis makes the disease harder to treat and the prognosis worse.

Families living through a misdiagnosis carry two questions: Why didn’t my doctor catch this? and What happens now? The law provides patients and their families with a means to hold providers accountable. 

Over the years, our attorneys have recovered some of the largest cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit settlements in California, giving clients the resources they needed for treatment and care during the hardest chapter of their lives.

As one of the nation’s leading cancer misdiagnosis law firms, Hodes Milman brings more than 75 years of combined experience to these cases. Contact us online or call (949) 640-8222 to learn how we can help you seek answers and justice.

Settlements That Tell the Story of Cancer Misdiagnosis

Every misdiagnosis carries a personal story: appointments where warning signs were missed, test results that went unread, or conversations where patients were told everything was fine when it wasn’t. 

The settlements below represent people who trusted their providers, only to have that trust broken. Each case demonstrates how cancer misdiagnosis impacts lives, and how our firm has helped families secure the resources needed to navigate the road ahead.

$1.75 Million: 60-Year-Old Teacher’s Breast Cancer Misdiagnosed

Our client, a longtime teacher, underwent regular mammograms in 2018 and again in 2020. Both scans showed subtle but troubling signs of disease. Those changes in her breast tissue were dismissed, and her results were reported as normal.

By 2021, she finally received the truth: she had breast cancer, and it had already spread beyond the breast. The lost time meant she faced far more aggressive treatment than she should have.

We secured a $1,750,000 settlement, which covered her medical expenses and included protection for her family in case the disease later led to a wrongful death claim.

$1 Million: 59-Year-Old Educator’s Melanoma Misdiagnosed

A professor had a lesion removed from her arm. The dermatologist identified melanoma, but the information was never shared with her. Instead, her primary care office mistakenly told her it was basal cell carcinoma, a far less dangerous skin condition.

Believing she was safe, she went more than two years without the treatment she needed. When the mistake was finally uncovered, she required two major surgeries and chemotherapy. 

Although she is cancer-free today, she now lives with a 20% risk of the cancer returning.

Her case resulted in a $1,000,000 settlement, which helped her cover the costs of continued monitoring, treatment, and the challenges of living with that risk.

$850,000: 43-Year-Old Man Misdiagnosed With Leukemia

A father of young children was told he had T-cell leukemia after a liver biopsy. Based on that diagnosis, doctors placed him on an aggressive treatment plan meant for leukemia patients. 

Months later, a second opinion revealed the devastating truth: he did not have leukemia at all, but instead a cancer of the thymic region that required an entirely different treatment.

By the time the error came to light, the cancer had spread. He passed away before the correct treatment could be given. His family pursued justice for the years cut short, and the case was resolved for $850,000.

$750,000: 64-Year-Old Man’s Lung Cancer Overlooked

A CT scan in 2018 showed a small but suspicious spot on a man’s lung. The radiologist missed it, and no one ordered a follow-up. 

Three years later, another scan revealed the cancer in the same location, now measuring several centimeters. The disease had advanced to stage IV, shifting his condition from likely curable to terminal.

The missed opportunity robbed him of the chance for early treatment. His case was resolved for $750,000, acknowledging the irreversible cost of those lost years.

$700,000: 68-Year-Old Man’s Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosed

Biopsy results for a 68-year-old man were mixed up with those of another patient. He was told he did not have prostate cancer and lived under that belief for months. Half a year later, the mistake surfaced: his biopsy had actually been positive.

He underwent surgery soon after, but died only three days later. Whether his death stemmed directly from the surgery was unclear, yet the misdiagnosis robbed his family of the chance to prepare and seek timely care. His two adult children resolved the case for $700,000.

$600,000: Mother of Three Misdiagnosed With a Benign Skin Condition

In 2012, a woman had a skin lesion removed from her back. The biopsy was read as benign, and she went on with her life, raising three young daughters. 

Four years later, new neurological symptoms led to a review of her earlier biopsy. A second pathologist confirmed what should have been identified in 2012: it was melanoma. By then, the cancer had spread to her brain.

She began immunotherapy with Keytruda and responded well, but the misdiagnosis forced her to endure years of uncertainty and grueling treatments. Her case settled for $600,000.

$375,000: 70-Year-Old Woman Misdiagnosed With Multiple Myeloma

A woman in her seventies was told she had multiple myeloma, a serious cancer of the bone marrow, after her oncologist saw bone changes on an X-ray. He recommended aggressive chemotherapy, and she began the regimen. 

Later, an outside specialist reviewed her case and found she never had cancer at all. She had a benign condition that never required chemotherapy.

Although she stopped treatment immediately, the damage was already done. The chemotherapy left her with permanent nerve damage, causing daily pain and limiting her independence. Her case was resolved through mediation for $375,000.

A cancer misdiagnosis can mean years of treatment that never should have happened, or time lost that can’t be regained. At Hodes Milman, we pursue accountability when doctors or hospitals fail their patients. 

Our team has secured over $200 million for clients in medical malpractice cases, including settlements for cancer misdiagnosis.

If you or a loved one were given the wrong diagnosis, call (949) 640-8222 or message us for a free consultation. We’ll review your situation and explain your options.

What Can Cancer Misdiagnosis Payouts in California Include?

Cancer misdiagnosis changes the care you receive, the treatments you undergo, and the future you thought you had with your family. At Hodes Milman, we pursue every avenue of compensation to reflect the full cost of medical negligence, including:

Past, Present, and Future Medical Expenses

A wrong diagnosis can lead to wasted months on treatments that don’t work, followed by urgent, aggressive therapies once the truth is uncovered. Settlements may cover chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, hospital stays, and follow-up scans. They also account for future medical needs, including ongoing monitoring and treatments if the cancer returns.

​​Lost Income and Reduced Earning Capacity

Time away from work during treatment can quickly drain savings. In some cases, patients may be unable to return to their jobs at all. Settlements can replace wages already lost and also address reduced earning capacity if the misdiagnosis affects a patient’s ability to continue working in the future.

Long-Term Care and Home Adjustments

Some patients require ongoing nursing care, home health aides, or modifications like wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, or bathroom renovations. Parents may also need childcare during hospital stays and long appointments. Settlements can account for these costs, which add up quickly and are rarely covered by insurance.

Pain and Suffering

Living with cancer that went undiagnosed, or enduring treatment for a disease you never had, takes a toll beyond the body. Settlements acknowledge the exhaustion, anxiety, and day-to-day struggles that patients endure because of a wrong diagnosis. 

Loss of Life Expectancy 

Misdiagnosed cancer can shorten the years a patient should have had. Settlements recognize that late discovery can turn a manageable disease into a terminal one, reducing the time patients have with spouses, children, and grandchildren.

Family Impact and Wrongful Death

If a cancer misdiagnosis leads to death, families lose companionship, guidance, and the presence of someone central to their lives. Settlements can provide for funeral expenses, replace financial support, and acknowledge the profound personal loss that survivors endure.

As of January 1, 2025, California limits compensation for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, to $430,000 in medical malpractice cases and $600,000 in wrongful death cases. These caps will rise each year until they reach $750,000 and $1,000,000 in 2033. 

Because these limits affect what patients and families may receive, it’s important to speak with a cancer misdiagnosis attorney about how the law applies to your case.

FAQs About Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawsuits

What types of cancer are most often linked to misdiagnosis lawsuits?

Cases involving breast, lung, skin, and prostate cancer appear frequently in settlements. These cancers are sometimes missed because early signs overlap with less serious conditions, or because providers fail to order the proper tests.

Can families file a lawsuit if a cancer misdiagnosis led to death?

Yes. Many of the cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit settlements in California have involved wrongful death claims. Families may recover compensation for funeral expenses, loss of income the patient would have provided, and the loss of their companionship and guidance.

What errors usually lead to large cancer misdiagnosis settlements?

Settlements generally stem from serious errors like failing to order follow-up scans, misreading biopsy slides, mixing up lab results, or providing the wrong treatment for the type of cancer. These mistakes can cost patients the chance for early treatment or lead to unnecessary, damaging therapies.

How long do patients or families have to bring a lawsuit in California?

California law generally provides three years from the date of misdiagnosis or one year from when the mistake should have been discovered. Because missed deadlines can end a claim, families considering cancer misdiagnosis settlements in California should speak with a lawyer as soon as they suspect something was missed.

Contact a California Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer

Reaching a fair settlement after a cancer misdiagnosis takes experience, persistence, and a deep understanding of how these cases affect patients and families. 

At Hodes Milman, we have secured some of the largest cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit settlements in California, helping clients cover treatment costs, provide for their families, and hold negligent providers accountable.

Our team handles every detail of the legal work, from gathering records to negotiating with insurers, so that you can concentrate on your health and time with loved ones. 

Call (949) 640-8222 to schedule a free consultation with a California cancer misdiagnosis attorney. We’ll review your situation and explain how we can pursue the settlement you and your family need.

Proudly Representing California Residents

Related Resources

If you found this cancer misdiagnosis content helpful, please view the related topics below: 

• Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney
• Irvine Hospital Negligence Attorney
• Undiagnosed Breast Cancer Causes Woman’s Death; Settled for $350,000

Contact us if you have specific questions on the matter or if you’d like to schedule a free consultation.