Hearing that you or someone close to you has cancer is difficult enough. Finding out it could have been diagnosed sooner leaves you with questions that are hard to set aside. You may be wondering how it was missed, whether earlier treatment would have changed things, and what can be done now.
A Santa Ana cancer misdiagnosis attorney at Hodes Milman can help you get those answers. We represent individuals and families who have faced delayed, missed, or incorrect cancer diagnoses.
Our work begins with understanding what you have been through and then building a clear picture of where the diagnosis should have been made and what was lost because it was not.
Call (949) 640-8222 or contact us online to arrange a free, confidential case review today.
Why You Need a Santa Ana Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer
When a medical provider misses the signs of cancer or ignores symptoms that should have led to testing, the consequences can be life-altering. The most effective treatment may no longer be possible, and options that could have extended life or preserved quality of life may disappear.
Whether the diagnosis was yours or a loved one’s, that negligence deserves to be addressed.
Our Santa Ana cancer misdiagnosis law firm challenges the hospitals, clinics, and insurers that try to avoid responsibility for these failures. We bring forward the facts of what happened and pursue a result that reflects the full scope of what was taken from you, including the medical care now required, the plans that can no longer be made, and the time that should have been available.
Taking this step is about justice. It is also about securing the resources needed to move forward after one of the most damaging events a person or family can face.
“After interviewing four Orange County law firms for our medical malpractice case, we chose Hodes Milman. From our first meeting, we felt confident they would give our case the attention it deserved. They were kind, thorough, and worked with us for months to achieve a settlement that exceeded our expectations and will help us live comfortably moving forward.”
— Lise Scott
How Different Cancers Are Diagnosed
Cancer misdiagnosis happens when doctors ignore warning signs or fail to order the right tests. The consequences are always the same: treatment options become more limited and outcomes less favorable.
Each type of cancer has specific warning signs that should prompt immediate testing, but too often these signals are ignored or dismissed:
Breast Cancer
Women should receive regular mammograms starting at age 40, and any new lump, breast pain, or changes in breast appearance should trigger immediate evaluation. When you find a lump or notice changes, your doctor should order imaging and, if necessary, a biopsy.
Too often, lumps are dismissed as cysts or normal tissue changes without proper testing. Even when mammograms show suspicious areas, the follow-up that should happen immediately may be delayed or never scheduled at all.
Lung Cancer
You go to the doctor with a cough that will not go away, trouble breathing, or unexplained weight loss. The doctor should order a chest X-ray and, if anything looks suspicious, follow up with a CT scan.
Too often, providers dismiss these symptoms as bronchitis or allergies without taking the next step. When they finally do order imaging, radiologists may miss obvious masses or fail to recommend further testing.
Colorectal Cancer
If you are over 45 or have a family history, you should receive regular colonoscopies and stool tests. When you report rectal bleeding, changes in your bowel habits, or ongoing abdominal pain, these tests become urgent.
Instead, doctors often blame hemorrhoids or stress without investigating further. Even when stool tests come back positive for blood, the follow-up colonoscopy may be delayed for months.
Prostate Cancer
Men over 50 should receive PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams as part of routine care. When PSA levels are elevated or the exam reveals abnormalities, you should be sent to a specialist immediately.
Many providers dismiss high PSA numbers as normal for your age or fail to perform the exam at all. The referral to a urologist that should happen within weeks can be delayed indefinitely.
Melanoma
Any suspicious mole or skin change should be examined carefully and, if necessary, biopsied. Doctors are trained to look for changes in size, shape, color, or texture.
Too many providers give these concerns a quick glance and dismiss them as harmless. When you point out a mole that has changed, the response should be a biopsy, not reassurance that it looks fine.
Cervical and Ovarian Cancer
Regular Pap smears and follow-up on abnormal results can prevent cervical cancer or catch it early. Ovarian cancer requires attention to persistent pelvic pain, bloating, or other symptoms that do not resolve.
Abnormal Pap results may never be communicated to you, or the recommended follow-up may be postponed. Ovarian cancer symptoms are too often dismissed as normal aging or stress.
Blood Cancers
Routine blood tests can reveal irregularities that point to leukemia or lymphoma. Persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, or swollen lymph nodes should prompt immediate investigation.
Instead, abnormal blood work may be ignored or explained away as a minor infection. The referral to a blood specialist that should follow never happens.
When doctors fail to recognize these warning signs or avoid ordering the appropriate tests, cancer continues to grow while you believe you are receiving proper medical care.
You deserve answers and accountability. If a cancer misdiagnosis in Santa Ana changed the course of your treatment or a loved one’s life, we are ready to take action on your behalf. Call (949) 640-8222 or contact us online for a free and confidential case review.
Where Cancer Misdiagnosis Happens in Santa Ana
A correct cancer diagnosis often depends on a chain of decisions made by doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and specialists. When one link in that chain is broken, the chance to treat the disease earlier can be lost.
In Santa Ana, that chain often begins at a primary care office or urgent care clinic, then moves to imaging centers such as Saddleback Radiology or MemorialCare Imaging, laboratories at facilities like Orange County Global Medical Center or St. Joseph Hospital, and finally to oncology specialists.
Misdiagnosis can occur at several points:
Initial Evaluation
You report symptoms such as persistent pain, swelling, bleeding, or other unexplained changes. At offices in the North Main Street medical corridor or South Main Street clinics, a provider may dismiss these concerns or assume they are caused by something minor. When that happens, vital testing may never be ordered.
Diagnostic Testing
Bloodwork, CT scans, MRIs, and other imaging studies are often done through local diagnostic centers or hospital-affiliated radiology groups. Errors occur when these tests are skipped, delayed, or misread, and the opportunity for early treatment is lost.
Specialist Referral
If test results point to cancer, there should be an immediate referral to an oncologist at facilities such as Kaiser Permanente Santa Ana, AltaMed Medical Group, or UCI Health specialists. Delays at this stage can allow the cancer to progress while you wait for care.
Pathology
A biopsy analyzed in a pathology lab, whether in-house or through an outside provider, can confirm or rule out cancer. Mistakes in reading the sample or failures to share results promptly can mean treatment never begins when it should.
When any part of this process fails in Santa Ana’s healthcare system, patients pay the price. Understanding where these breakdowns occur is the first step in holding the responsible parties accountable.
Dan Hodes Discusses Cancer Misdiagnosis Cases
Managing Partner Dan Hodes recently discussed cancer misdiagnosis cases on the Cases 4 Causes podcast, sharing insights from decades of representing clients whose cancer was missed or incorrectly diagnosed.
He explains the common patterns in these cases, why early detection makes such a difference in treatment outcomes, and how healthcare systems in places like Santa Ana sometimes fail their most basic obligations to patients.
Listen to the Episode
How Cancer Misdiagnosis Changes Treatment
When you or a loved one receives the wrong diagnosis, you follow a treatment path that does nothing to address the cancer growing in the body. The consequences reach far beyond a delayed start to the right care.
Treatment for the Wrong Condition
While cancer advances unchecked, you may spend months treating acid reflux instead of stomach cancer, taking antibiotics for persistent “infections” that are actually signs of blood cancer, or using creams for skin conditions that are melanoma.
You follow medical advice, take prescribed medications, and believe you are getting better while cancer spreads throughout the body.
False Sense of Security
Misdiagnosis creates a dangerous belief that symptoms are under control. You and your family stop seeking additional medical opinions because a doctor has given an explanation and a treatment plan.
Meanwhile, the window for effective cancer treatment continues to close. By the time the correct diagnosis is made, what could have been an early-stage, highly treatable cancer has often progressed to advanced stages.
Wasted Treatment and Resources
You undergo procedures, take medications, and invest time and money in treatments that provide no benefit for the actual condition. Worse, some treatments for the wrong diagnosis can interfere with cancer treatment when it finally begins.
The body may be weakened by unnecessary procedures or medications, making it less able to handle the aggressive treatment that advanced cancer now requires.
Advanced Disease at True Diagnosis
When the misdiagnosis is finally discovered, you face a cancer that has had months or years to grow and spread. The small, localized tumor that could have been surgically removed is now a complex case requiring combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Treatment that could have been completed in weeks now extends for months or years.
Cancer misdiagnosis actively prevents proper care while allowing the disease to advance. The impact extends to every aspect of your life and the lives of those who depend on you.
“A cancer misdiagnosis can take away months or years a patient could have spent with the people they love. That loss deserves to be answered for.”
— Dan Hodes, Managing Partner | Hodes Milman
What a Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer in Santa Ana Can Help You Pursue
Cancer misdiagnosis creates financial burdens that extend beyond the original medical bills. When treatment becomes more complex and recovery takes longer, the costs multiply quickly. Legal action can help address these expenses and provide compensation for losses that cannot be undone.
Medical Care for Advanced Treatment
Later-stage cancer requires more intensive treatment that costs significantly more than early intervention would have. You may face multiple surgeries, extended chemotherapy regimens, radiation therapy, and ongoing monitoring that continues for years.
These expenses include not only the procedures themselves but also medications, medical equipment, and specialized care that becomes necessary when cancer has progressed.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
Extended treatment and recovery periods often mean time away from work that stretches far longer than originally planned. Some people cannot return to their previous jobs due to lasting effects of more aggressive treatment. Others may be able to work but at reduced capacity, affecting their ability to earn at previous levels. The financial impact continues long after treatment ends.
Changes to Quality of Life
Advanced cancer treatment can cause permanent changes that affect daily activities, relationships, and independence. Compensation addresses the loss of activities you once enjoyed, the need for ongoing assistance with daily tasks, and the physical limitations that result from more aggressive treatment than would have been necessary with early diagnosis.
Wrongful Death Cases
When misdiagnosis contributes to a death that could have been prevented with proper care, families face funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the loss of guidance and companionship that cannot be measured in dollars but must be addressed in legal proceedings.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Cancer misdiagnosis cases involve complex legal and medical issues that require specialized knowledge to navigate successfully. Insurance companies and healthcare providers have experienced legal teams working to minimize what they pay out.
A national survey by Martindale-Nolo found that claimants with attorney representation recovered nearly three times more on average than those who handled cases on their own.
Get Help for Your Santa Ana Cancer Misdiagnosis
When cancer is misdiagnosed, you are left questioning whether the warning signs were overlooked and what might have been different with proper medical care. We help you find out what went wrong and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Hodes Milman has won $200 million and has over 30 years of experience securing justice for victims of negligence. Our Santa Ana cancer misdiagnosis law firm focuses on getting justice for those whose lives have been changed by healthcare providers who failed to meet their responsibilities.
Call (949) 640-8222 or message us online for a free case review with a Santa Ana cancer misdiagnosis attorney today.
Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney in Santa Ana—FAQs
How long do I have to file a cancer misdiagnosis lawsuit in Santa Ana?
California’s medical malpractice statute of limitations gives you three years from when you discovered the misdiagnosis or one year from when you should have reasonably discovered it, whichever comes first. These deadlines are strict, so it’s important to speak with a Santa Ana cancer misdiagnosis attorney as soon as you suspect misdiagnosis occurred.
What if multiple doctors were involved in my misdiagnosis?
When several healthcare providers contributed to a misdiagnosis, we can pursue claims against all responsible parties. This might include your primary care doctor, radiologists who misread scans, pathologists who incorrectly analyzed tissue samples, and specialists who failed to follow up appropriately. Each provider’s insurance will be responsible for their portion of the damages.
Can I sue if my loved one died from cancer that was misdiagnosed?
Yes. California allows wrongful death lawsuits when medical negligence contributes to someone’s death. These cases can recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and compensation for the loss of companionship and guidance. However, only certain family members can file these claims, and the time limits are the same as other medical malpractice cases.
What if I'm currently undergoing cancer treatment? Can I still pursue a case?
Absolutely. You don’t need to wait until treatment is complete to explore legal action. In fact, starting the legal process while treatment is ongoing can be beneficial because medical records and evidence are fresh, and we can document your ongoing damages as they occur. Your focus should remain on your health while we handle the legal aspects.
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.
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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.
