6 Types Of Cancer That Are Most Commonly Misdiagnosed

Cancer is one of the most common diseases, but it’s still not always easy to detect. Some cancers are so rare that they might never show up on a scan or test, and many cancers share some similar symptoms with other illnesses which makes them difficult to diagnose too. These are the 6 most commonly misdiagnosed types of cancer that you should be aware of before any major health issues arise.

1. Prostate Cancer

Since prostate cancer can develop so slowly, many people ignore early symptoms or attribute them to other illnesses. It’s only during an annual checkup that a physician might notice something abnormal, but by then cancer has advanced significantly. In this case, cancer misdiagnosis occurs because most men have no symptoms until they reach an advanced stage. Prostate cancer is also difficult to diagnose because it shares some of the same symptoms as prostatitis which is an infection in the prostate gland. Some common symptoms are pain while urinating or ejaculating, fever or chills, burning sensations while passing urine, and discharges from the penis. The most obvious sign of prostate cancer is blood in your semen, however, so make sure you tell your doctor if you experience this after sexual activity!

2. Skin Cancer

Skin cancers are one of the most common forms of cancer, but because they are often not associated with the word “cancer” it can be easy to overlook a lesion or mole on your skin. While many types of skin cancer have some similarities which make them difficult to diagnose, melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer and it is important to get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible. Skin cancer is the most aggressive when left undetected, so you must be very familiar with the types of moles and lesions that are cancerous.

3. Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, and yet many people have never even heard of it before. This makes pancreatic cancer easier for doctors to misdiagnose because it’s simply less familiar to patients than other cancers that often share symptoms such as weight loss and abdominal pain. Only 7% of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live longer than a year after diagnosis, so it’s important to catch the disease in its earliest stages for a high chance of survival.

4. Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer is another very deadly form of cancer that is difficult to detect due to similar symptoms having other recognizable medical conditions. Many kidney cancers are diagnosed too late because their symptoms are ignored until they become severe enough to push the patient through several rounds of tests before doctors finally discover the root problem. The 5-year survival rate for kidney cancer is 23%, which means that 77% of people die within five years after diagnosis even if they do get an accurate test result without any delay.

5. Ovarian Cancer

The early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are quite vague and often do not show up until cancer has already metastasized to other parts of the body. The early stages of ovarian cancer often look like symptoms from other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, bladder infections, and even stress and anxiety. If you suffer from bloating and discomfort in your stomach area, make sure to visit a doctor for proper testing before assuming that it’s simply another symptom of stress or anxiety.

6. Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is one of three cancers that account for 80% of all female reproductive cancers, but due to its more subtle symptoms, it can be easily misdiagnosed as a benign uterine condition. Some women have been known to wait as long as 40 years before receiving a proper diagnosis because their doctors continuously misdiagnosed the condition as merely irritable bowel syndrome and other common conditions.

Preventing Misdiagnosis

In the early stages of cancer, patients need to educate themselves on all of their symptoms and warning signs so that they can share them with their doctors as soon as possible. In many cases, a simple misdiagnosis will lead to a delay in treatment which could result in permanent damage or even death. Don’t assume that your doctor is going to detect every form of cancer during one visit unless you first provide him or her with the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis.

While many cancers can be difficult to detect, it’s important to understand that early detection is always best so you have the greatest chance of recovery and survival after a cancer diagnosis. The key to surviving any form of cancer is ensuring that you get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.