Undiagnosed Neoplasms in Elderly Residents of Nursing Homes

 Posted on February 14, 2025 in Neglect

Elderly people tend to be medically fragile, and the most at risk of developing serious conditions like cancer. We trust nursing homes to handle our loved ones at their most vulnerable, making sure any dangerous illnesses are caught early on and treated promptly. When this duty is neglected, nursing home residents can suffer serious health complications, including neoplasms.

An Illinois nursing home neglect lawyer can help you take legal action against nursing facilities that compromise the health of their residents by letting neoplasms fester. At Schwartz Injury Law, our attorneys are dedicated to identifying negligence in nursing homes and building cases for personal injury claims. When you work with us, we will fight for your family’s right to compensation.

What is a Neoplasm?

Neoplasms are better known as tumors, essentially clumps of cells that grow abnormally. Neoplasms often present as lumps on top of the skin and come in various sizes. What makes these growths so dangerous is that they can be cancerous, and, if not swiftly addressed, can spread to other parts of the body.

Not all neoplasms are cancerous – these are referred to as benign tumors, as opposed to malignant tumors. However, it is better to err on the side of caution when dealing with a tumor, especially with medically fragile populations. If a skilled nurse is not on site to perform regular checkups, a neoplasm could go weeks or even months without being diagnosed.

Symptoms of Neoplasms

In many cases, a neoplasm is easily identifiable as a visible lump. This does not apply to all tumors. Less obvious symptoms of a neoplasm include:

• Night sweats

• Unexplained weight loss

• Diarrhea

• Anemia

• Shortness of breath

Oftentimes, the symptoms of a tumor will be localized around one area. In cases of breast cancer, for example, a neoplasm might cause pain and swelling around the affected area, as well as redness and irritation.

Whether it is cancerous or not, you should take neoplasms seriously and have suspected neoplasms looked at by a medical professional as soon as possible.

Treating a Neoplasm

Treating a neoplasm will depend on how early it is caught and whether or not it is malignant. If the neoplasm is benign, immediate treatment might not be necessary. Doctors might simply monitor the tumor over time to see if it develops into anything serious. To get rid of the tumor altogether, a medical professional might perform surgery on the affected area. If the tumor is too deep inside the body to handle with surgery, a medical professional might use radiation therapy to take care of abnormal growths.

More extensive treatments may be required for cancerous neoplasms. Chemotherapy can be used to stop the spread of cancerous cells, and immunotherapy can train the body to attack cancerous cells.

The Dangers of a Late Neoplasm Diagnosis

If a malignant tumor is not treated in its early stages, the risk of severe health complications or even death increases. A cancer that spreads to other parts of the body can jeopardize your health, especially in the lungs, pancreas, or liver.

The elderly are at greater risk of cancer compared to younger populations. If nursing home residents are not monitored on a regular basis, an undiagnosed malignant neoplasm could quickly spiral into a much more serious condition. Certain factors like obesity or a lack of exercise can also put nursing home residents at an increased risk of cancer. At Schwartz Injury Law, we can investigate the conditions in a nursing home to see if the staff took any preventative measures against aggressive neoplasms.

Filing a Claim

Nursing homes are often protected by powerful insurance companies who will seize every opportunity to deny or deflect blame for negligent staff members. This can make filing a personal injury claim an uphill battle, especially if you are not familiar with the law.

To build a strong foundation for a personal injury claim related to an undiagnosed neoplasm, you will have to gather evidence. This may involve collecting physician’s reports, treatment plans from the nursing home, or taking pictures of the affected areas. Witness testimony from nursing home staff can also bolster your claim. At Schwartz Injury Law, we can investigate the facility on your behalf to get a head start on your claim.

Nursing Home Negligence

To hold the nursing home accountable for your loved one’s damages, you will have to prove that the staff or facility as a whole acted negligently. Understaffing is an epidemic in nursing homes, leading to many residents not receiving adequate medical care for underlying health conditions. If there is not a good ratio of staff to residents, the employees might be spread too thin to catch the subtle signs of a neoplasm.

Understaffing is no excuse for an elderly resident suffering in the care of a nursing home. At Schwartz Injury Law, we can file a personal injury claim against nursing homes for not maintaining adequate numbers at a facility.

Damages Caused by an Undiagnosed Neoplasm

Compensation for a personal injury claim for an undiagnosed neoplasm can take many types of damages into account. For instance, you might receive compensation for expensive cancer treatments that could have been avoided if the tumor was surgically removed in its early stages. You might also recover non-economic damages for the prolonged pain and suffering caused by an untreated neoplasm.

Complications from a festering neoplasm can be fatal. If the worst should come to pass, we can file a wrongful death claim for the loss of your loved one to cancer. Compensation in these claims may factor in the costs of end-of-life care, funeral expenses, and grief.

Contact a Chicago, IL Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Today

Nursing homes should be held to high standards, especially in regard to medical care. At Schwartz Injury Law, our Cook County, IL nursing home abuse attorneys can represent your family in personal injury claims for undiagnosed neoplasms resulting in serious illness or death. To schedule a free consultation with our compassionate team of lawyers, call our offices at 312-535-4625 today.