Although Pap smears have become a largely reliable method of detecting cervical cancer early on, they are not completely infallible.

If a Pap smear missed cervical cancer signs, a patient may be diagnosed with cancer far too late for treatment to be effective. More and more patients are coming forward with allegations that their Pap smear missed cervical cancer signs, placing them at serious risk.

If a Pap smear missed cervical cancer, it could be the result of a false negative test, or a care provider not recognizing the signs from a viable test.

Basics of Pap Smear Screening

Pap smear screening has helped to significantly reduce the risk of death from cervical cancer, which used to be one of the most common causes of cancer death in American women. Indeed, a Pap smear test can be essential to catching cancer in its early and more treatable stages. The Pap smear process has been around for decades, and these tests become extremely useful tools for detecting pre-cancer.

A Pap smear screening collects cells from the cervix, which are examined for evidence of cancer and changes that may indicate a potential cervical cancer diagnosis in the future. This allows a patient to undergo preventative treatment, which can stop cancer entirely.

Cervical cancer has become one of the most preventable gynecologic cancers because of the role of Pap smear screening in detecting cancer early on. Women are encouraged to undergo regular Pap smear testing to detect signs of cervical cancer and begin treatment before it starts. The American Cancer Society recommends that women undergo a Pap test every three years throughout their twenties, and after that, every five years.

Pap Smear Missed Cervical Cancer

While these tests have become extremely useful in detecting cervical cancer early on, it may in some cases be diagnosed incorrectly, or even show a false negative. Because of this, even someone who tested safely during a Pap smear screening may later end up with a cervical cancer diagnosis.

In some cases, this may be due to the negligence of medical labs that failed to properly recognize signs of cervical cancer from the test in the first place. For instance, a medical lab may have observed the test results but failed to actually detect cancer cells present and reach the correct diagnosis. This can mean that the cancer is only diagnosed when it has become far more serious when it is more difficult to treat.

Filing a Missed Cervical Cancer Lawsuit

If you believe that your cancer was not caught due to a defective or misdiagnosed Pap smear screening, you may be able to file a missed cervical cancer lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by cervical cancer or bring a loved one back to life, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses, hospital stays, and lost wages.