Failure to diagnose cancer is one of the most often seen malpractice cases in the U.S. There are more than 100 different diseases considered to be cancer, many with few early symptoms or symptoms that are not immediately associated with cancer. In order to treat cancer aggressively, it must first be diagnosed early. Typically, a biopsy is needed to determine if cancer is present; however, first the doctor must come to the conclusion that there is a need for a biopsy, which entails a thorough history and examination of the patient. Part of the failure to diagnose cancer can be attributed to the minute amount of time a doctor spends with patients during office visits. Visits are typically scheduled in increments of fifteen minutes. During that time, the doctor is expected to talk to the patient, perform an examination, make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan; a near possible feat to perform in such a short time. Cancers can be missed when early detection tests are not ordered or are misread and misinterpreted. The survival rate and life expectancy of cancer patients are directly related to how early it is discovered. Failure to diagnose cancer is not an acceptable reason for dying of cancer.