Many different mistakes can lead to a delay in diagnosis which may deprive patients of the chance for a cure and these may include:

• Failure to realise the importance of a patient’s complaint
• Failure to refer a patient to a cancer specialist
• Failure to perform an examination which would have identified an obvious tumour
• Failure to identify an obvious lump during examination
• Failure to arrange mammogram, pap smear, x-rays, ultrasound, C.T. Scan or M.R.I. Scan.
• Failure to treat a patient appropriately
• Failure to accurately read smears
• Failure to carry out triple assessment where best practices indicate the necessity of doing so.
• Failure to have a biopsy performed when the physical examination results are abnormal.
• Failure to properly evaluate biopsy or test results.
• Misinterpreting scans or laboratory results.
• Mistaking a tumour for an infection or diagnosing the tumour as benign
• Failure to follow up on test results.
• Failure to order future tests.
• Failure to communicate a positive result to the treating clinician or G.P.
• Failure to follow up with patient.
• Disregarding history of sharp pains or discharge.
• Failure to recognise common symptoms.
• Failure to test when a patient exhibits indicative symptoms.
• Failure to react quickly to findings.
• Failure to recommend appropriate treatment options.
• Failure to monitor patients with a family history of cancer.
• Ignoring blood tests, scan or biopsy results.
• Losing records.