New York Melanoma Malpractice Attorneys

Representing Victims of Delayed Diagnosis & Misdiagnosis of Skin Cancer

Melanoma, the most common cancer in young adults between the ages of 25 and 29, is by far the deadliest form of cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 65,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma every year and almost 10,000 will die. The disease is currently the sixth most common cancer in the U.S.

Our New York melanoma malpractice attorneys know that early detection of melanoma can save lives. The risk of dying from the disease is directly related to the extent of the spread of cancer through the tissues of the skin, and spread is directly related to the amount of time the melanoma has been growing. When oncologists and other medical providers fail to provide patients with a timely diagnosis or fail to diagnose skin cancer altogether, patients are unable to get the critical early treatment they need. This can have disastrous—and even deadly—results.

If you believe you or a loved one suffered because of a health care provider’s failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis of melanoma, reach out to Simonson Goodman Platzer PC to learn more about your legal rights and options. You could be entitled to financial compensation for your damages, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, or the death of a loved one.

Contact us online or call (800) 817-5029 today to get started with a free initial consultation.

Types of Skin Cancers

Exposure to a specific type of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, known as UVB radiation, is associated with several different types of skin cancer. This exposure occurs any time a person is in direct or indirect sunlight. It can also occur when someone uses a tanning bed or another similar device that utilizes UV radiation. Currently, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, especially among young to middle-aged adults.

Cumulative sun exposure has been positively linked to the following types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

Together, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma (often referred to as “non-melanoma skin cancer”) make up the vast majority of skin cancer cases in the U.S. With early detection and treatment, these forms of cancer are typically highly curable. Melanoma, on the other hand, is a much more serious and aggressive form of skin cancer that frequently spreads throughout the body, including to other organs.

How Melanoma Malpractice Happens

The good news about melanoma is that, unlike most other cancers, melanoma presents on the skin, making it fairly easy to detect.

Most melanoma malpractice cases occur when a patient points out a suspicious lesion or mole to the doctor and the doctor fails to recognize signs that the spot could be cancer. As a result, the doctor fails to recommend a biopsy. In other instances of malpractice, the doctor takes an inadequate biopsy, or the pathologist examining the tissue fails to identify the presence of melanoma.

Protecting Yourself from Melanoma Diagnostic Issues

To protect yourself, perform your own periodic skin exams, looking for lesions that are changing or asymmetric or that have color variation or irregular borders.

Examples of change include new or worsened:

• Elevation
• Pain
• Itching
• Bleeding
• Burning

If you see something that troubles you, point it out to the doctor. Be particularly aware of moles/lesions that look odd or really different than anything else on your body. If you find one, tell your doctor and ask them to conduct a biopsy. If your doctor doesn’t think a biopsy is necessary, do not be afraid to ask for a second opinion.

Another way to protect yourself from melanoma diagnosis mistakes is to have a full body skin check every year as part of your physical. Embarrassed? Have your skin checked anyway—it might save your life.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

When melanoma goes undiagnosed, it has the chance to spread to other areas of the body. This is one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer, and early detection and treatment is often the key to a successful recovery. If you believe that your cancer progressed or that your loved one died because a doctor failed to properly diagnose melanoma in a timely manner, you could have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.

At Simonson Goodman Platzer PC, we have been representing victims of cancer malpractice for decades and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. We are known for providing our clients with compassionate legal guidance and for being aggressive advocates in the courtroom. Our New York melanoma malpractice attorneys are ready to fight for you and the justice you deserve.

Simonson Goodman Platzer PC has offices in New York and New Jersey and serves clients throughout the surrounding areas. We provide our legal services on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay out-of-pocket expenses and we only collect attorney fees if and when we are successful in obtaining a settlement or verdict in your case.

Call (800) 817-5029 to request a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today.