Every year over 20,000 people in the US will be
diagnosed as suffering from stomach cancer which can be difficult
to detect. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages or when
symptoms do occur, they are often so vague that the person ignores
them. Symptoms may include:
Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
Indigestion or heartburn
Nausea and vomiting
Bloating of the stomach after meals
Diarrhea or constipation
Weakness and fatigue
Loss of appetite
Bleeding (vomiting blood or having blood in the stool)
Diagnosis takes place following consideration
of the patient’s history, medical records and following physical
and laboratory tests which may include:
Fecal occult blood test which checks for the presence
of hidden blood in the stool.
X-rays of the esophagus and stomach following consumption of a
barium solution which is radio opaque and outlines the stomach
on x-rays.
Endoscopy which is examination using a thin, lighted tube called
a gastroscope, which is passed through the mouth. If abnormal tissue
is found, a sample can be removed for microscopic examination using
the gastroscope.
This illness is difficult to treat and cure unless
it is found in an early stage before it has begun to spread. Treatment
may include:
Surgery which is the most common treatment for
stomach cancer and is called gastrectomy.
Chemotherapy which is the use of drugs to kill malignant cells
and is called systemic therapy because the drugs enter the bloodstream
and travel through the body.
Radiation therapy which is the use of high-energy
rays to damage malignant cells and stop them from growing.
Biological therapy which is also called immunotherapy and is a
form of treatment that helps the body's immune system attack and
destroy malignant cells.
It is now effectively possible to treat or cure
many types of this illness and even if a cure is not possible then
the quality of remaining life can be improved. The most common
claims dealt with by Medical
Malpractice Lawyers are those associated with failure to diagnose
Stomach Cancer in a timely manner which allows adequate treatment
to take place, or after diagnosis failing to arrange an appropriate
treatment.
The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis which may improve
quality of life, survival chances and life expectancy. If a doctor
has failed to diagnose the illness in a timely manner then compensation
may be payable for the worsening of the illness. Early diagnosis
usually means less pain, less financial hardship and a greater
chance of survival.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to Cancer Malpractice,
whether it be Breast Cancer, Cervical
Cancer, Colon Cancer, Esophageal
Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian
Cancer, Prostate Cancer, or Stomach
Cancer, contact The Rasansky
Law Firm today to have your Cancer
Malpractice Claim evaluated at no cost to you.
