A doctor in Lake Forest told you the lump was benign, or that your symptoms pointed to something minor. You followed their advice. Months later, you learned it was cancer all along. Now the treatment is harder. The options are fewer. And you’re left asking how this happened.
Hodes Milman helps uncover where the diagnostic process failed, whether a test was never ordered, imaging was misread, or a referral never happened.
We have spent more than 40 years handling medical malpractice cases, recovering over $200 million in verdicts and settlements against hospitals, medical groups, and healthcare systems across Southern California.
Call (949) 640-8222 or contact us online for a free case review with a Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis attorney.
”Dan Hodes treated me like a human being, not just another client. He showed me he cared by how hard he worked on my case.”
— Dalia P.
What Is Cancer Misdiagnosis?
Cancer misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor reaches the wrong conclusion about your condition, either by diagnosing something else entirely or by telling you nothing is wrong. When this happens, a Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis lawyer may be needed to determine whether the error violated the medical standard of care.
This can look like:
- Symptoms dismissed. Concerns are brushed off, no testing is ordered, and you are sent home believing you are healthy.
- Wrong condition diagnosed. You are treated for something minor while cancer continues to grow.
- Growth mislabeled as benign. A lump or lesion is declared non-cancerous without adequate testing or biopsy.
- False positive. You are told you have cancer when you do not and undergo treatment you never needed.
Types of Cancer That Are Commonly Misdiagnosed
Breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma are missed more often than most other cancers. Early symptoms often resemble far less serious conditions, and when providers do not order further testing, cancer goes undetected.
Women and people of color face even higher risk, with misdiagnosis rates estimated to be 20 to 30 percent higher.
Watch: Most Commonly Misdiagnosed Cancers in the US
Possible Causes of Cancer Misdiagnosis
Diagnosing cancer requires a chain of steps that includes listening to symptoms, ordering tests, reading results correctly, and following up. A breakdown at any point can delay diagnosis.
Common causes include:
- Symptoms attributed to stress, aging, or routine illness;
- Imaging or lab results misread;
- Pathology errors;
- Delayed or missed specialist referrals; or
- Test results never communicated to the patient.
Our Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis law firm has seen these failures across South Orange County hospitals and medical centers.
A cancer misdiagnosis can change everything: your prognosis, your treatment options, your quality of life. If a doctor’s error caused you or your family harm, you deserve to know whether medical negligence played a role.
Contact us at (949) 640-8222 for a free case review with a Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis attorney. We will review your case and explain your legal options
When Cancer Misdiagnosis Becomes Malpractice
California law allows patients to file a malpractice claim when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure causes harm, which is why many families choose to speak with a Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis lawyer when a delayed or missed cancer diagnosis leads to serious consequences.
In cancer misdiagnosis cases, multiple parties can share responsibility:
- The physician who missed the signs,
- The radiologist who misread imaging,
- The pathologist who made an error in analyzing tissue, and
- The hospital that failed to communicate results.
Deadlines for bringing a cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit in Lake Forest are strict. Claims must be filed within three years from the date of care or one year from when the misdiagnosis was discovered, whichever comes first.
Podcast: Inside Cancer Misdiagnosis Cases
Dan Hodes sat down with Cases 4 Causes to discuss what makes these cases complex and what it takes to hold hospitals and healthcare systems accountable.
What a Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim Can Recover
A misdiagnosis affects your health, income, family, and future. A Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis attorney can pursue compensation that covers the full scope of harm you suffered, including:
- Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and ongoing treatment;
- Lost wages during treatment and recovery;
- Reduced earning capacity if you can no longer work the way you did before;
- Ongoing care, monitoring, and follow-up appointments;
- Pain from invasive procedures;
- Loss of organs, fertility, or bodily function; and
- The gap between your current prognosis and what a timely diagnosis would have meant.
According to a Martindale-Nolo survey, people with legal representation in medical malpractice cases recovered nearly three times more than those without attorneys.
Here’s what that has meant for families Hodes Milman has represented:
Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis: $1 Million
A woman in her early 30s had a cervical biopsy that showed adenocarcinoma. Her OB-GYN told her the results were negative. Twenty months later, she returned with bleeding. A repeat biopsy confirmed invasive cancer. She underwent a radical hysterectomy and lost the ability to carry children.
Melanoma Misdiagnosis: $1 Million
A 59-year-old teacher had a skin lesion removed in April 2020. A dermatologist identified it as melanoma, but her primary care office told her it was basal cell carcinoma. The error went uncorrected until October 2022. She required two major surgeries, chemotherapy, and now faces a 20 percent recurrence risk.
“Medical professionals are trusted with people’s lives. When that trust is broken through a cancer misdiagnosis, justice must step in.”
— Dan Hodes, Managing Partner
Talk to a Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer in Lake Forest Today
A misdiagnosis can take away treatment options you should have had. The healthcare system that failed you is unlikely to explain what went wrong.
Hodes Milman takes the time to understand what happened to you, review the medical care involved, and explain whether negligence may have played a role in your cancer misdiagnosis.
Call (949) 640-8222 or contact us online today to speak with us at no cost.
FAQs
How can a cancer misdiagnosis attorney in Lake Forest help with my case?
Cancer misdiagnosis claims are complex. An attorney can review your medical records, identify where the standard of care was breached, gather expert evidence, develop a litigation strategy, and pursue full compensation for the harm caused.
Can I pursue a case if I'm still undergoing cancer treatment?
Yes. You don’t need to wait until treatment ends. Starting the process early helps preserve records and document ongoing harm while allowing you to focus on your health.
Can I hold both the doctor and the hospital responsible for my cancer misdiagnosis?
Often, yes. Delayed diagnoses frequently involve multiple failures. A physician may miss warning signs or delay referrals, while a hospital or lab may fail to communicate results or follow up. Each may share legal responsibility.
How does this process work if my loved one passed away?
If a delayed diagnosis led to death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. This can include compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost income, and the loss of care and companionship. A Lake Forest cancer misdiagnosis law firm can manage the case and communications with the providers involved.
ABOUT HODES MILMAN
Hodes Milman has won $200 million and has over 30 years of experience securing justice for victims of negligence. We are proud to call our clients family and offer them the resourceful, committed and accessible legal advocacy they deserve.
HONORS & AWARDS
MEET THE ATTORNEYS
When you work with us, you’ll see the difference. A lot of firms are quick to show you numbers, and it is absolutely true that your lawyer should have experience and a strong track record in the area that you require. However, we’ll take it one step further. We also believe that your attorney should put your needs, cares and desires first. Because you deserve more than just compensation for your losses - you deserve a true advocate.