Colon cancer frequently develops silently, advancing for years before symptoms appear, which makes proper assessment of risk factors for colon cancer one of the most important responsibilities entrusted to primary care providers and specialists. When physicians fail to identify elevated risk, delay recommended screening, or dismiss concerning patient histories, the disease may progress beyond highly treatable stages. Risk factors for colon cancer are critical warning signs that guide screening decisions, diagnostic vigilance, and timely medical intervention, yet they are too often carelessly overlooked in routine care. If you sustained losses due to a doctor’s negligent risk assessment and colon cancer screening, you have the right to pursue compensation, and you should meet with an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Cancer Lawyers, our experienced Syracuse cancer malpractice attorneys represent individuals whose lives have been profoundly affected by delayed or missed colon cancer diagnoses, and if you engage our services, we will zealously pursue the justice you deserve. We routinely advocate for patients throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York.
How Risk Factors for Colon Cancer Affect Diagnosis and Patient OutcomesRisk factors for colon cancer encompass a combination of genetic, medical, and lifestyle considerations that substantially influence a patient’s likelihood of developing the disease. These risk factors may include being over fifty, a personal or family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, hereditary conditions like Lynch syndrome, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and diets high in red or processed meats. Certain racial and ethnic populations also face increased risk, which may warrant earlier or more frequent screening.
When healthcare providers fail to adequately assess or respond to risk factors for colon cancer, patients may suffer devastating consequences. A patient with a strong family history may not be referred for an early colonoscopy. Another individual with longstanding gastrointestinal symptoms may be treated conservatively without an appropriate diagnostic evaluation. Delays in screening can allow precancerous polyps to progress into invasive cancer or permit early-stage cancer to spread beyond the colon. As a result, patients may require aggressive surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation and may face significantly reduced survival rates. Advanced colon cancer often brings chronic pain, bowel dysfunction, fatigue, and emotional distress, along with profound disruptions to work and family life. These outcomes are particularly tragic because colon cancer is often preventable or curable when detected early through appropriate screening based on known risk factors.
Proving Medical Negligence Related to Risk Factors for Colon CancerPeople harmed by a doctor’s failure to adequately assess or consider risk factors for colon cancer will often pursue medical malpractice claims. To prevail in such cases, a plaintiff will most likely have to demonstrate the defendant’s negligence.
In New York, a plaintiff alleging a defendant’s negligence must establish duty, breach, causation, and damages.
A healthcare provider’s duty to a patient is to deliver care consistent with accepted medical standards. In the context of colon cancer, this duty includes obtaining a thorough medical and family history, identifying risk factors, recommending appropriate screening such as colonoscopy or stool-based testing, and promptly investigating concerning symptoms.
A breach of duty occurs when a provider fails to act in accordance with those standards. Breaches related to risk factors for colon cancer may include failing to recommend screening at the appropriate age or earlier for high-risk patients, ignoring family history, misattributing symptoms such as rectal bleeding or unexplained anemia to benign causes, or failing to follow up on abnormal test results. Because these issues involve specialized medical judgment, expert testimony is almost always required to explain how reasonably competent providers assess colon cancer risk and to show that the defendant’s conduct fell below accepted practice.
Causation requires proof that the provider’s breach was a substantial factor in causing harm. In colon cancer cases, this often involves demonstrating that proper attention to risk factors would have led to earlier diagnosis and treatment, improving prognosis and reducing the need for aggressive intervention. Expert testimony may establish that the cancer advanced from a localized, highly treatable stage to an advanced or metastatic stage because screening or diagnostic testing was delayed despite clear risk indicators.
The final element is damages. Under New York law, patients harmed by negligent care related to risk factors for colon cancer may recover economic damages, including medical expenses, surgical costs, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, ongoing monitoring, future care needs, lost income, and diminished earning capacity. Non-economic damages may also be awarded for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the psychological burden of confronting advanced cancer.
Consult a Knowledgeable Colon Cancer Malpractice Attorney in Syracuse, Rochester, or Upstate New YorkRisk factors for colon cancer exist to guide proactive, individualized medical care, not to be ignored or minimized. When healthcare providers fail to recognize elevated risk or delay appropriate screening, patients may lose the opportunity for early detection and life-saving treatment. If you or a loved one suffered serious harm because a physician failed to identify or respond to colon cancer risk factors, it is advisable to talk to an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Cancer Lawyers, our knowledgeable Syracuse cancer malpractice attorneys are dedicated to holding negligent providers accountable, and if you hire us, we will seek the full compensation available. Our primary office is in Syracuse, and we regularly represent injured parties throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York. You can contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation through our online form or by calling 833-200-2000.