Massachusetts Medical Malpractice and Failure to Diagnose Ovarian Cancer
A failure to diagnose ovarian cancer creates a dangerous situation for the victim. Any negligence on the doctor’s part could lead to serious consequences such as complete removal of reproductive organs and the surrounding intestines. If anyone has been a victim of such type of negligence, s/he should contact the law firm of Parker Scheer immediately to schedule a consultation. A failure to diagnose ovarian cancer could be the reason for an otherwise preventable death.
The key to successfully treating ovarian cancer is early detection. Years ago, ovarian cancer crept up on patients, since symptoms were not recognized and the cancer was not diagnosed until it had spread to other parts of the body. However, in recent times, symptoms are now diagnosed earlier. The main symptom of ovarian cancer is irritable bowel – in other words, the victim may feel constant indigestion, pain in the abdomen and nausea. With ovarian cancer, these symptoms do not come and go, they steadily worsen. The victim may have gas and an unexplained change in bowel habits. Victims also complain of a frequent urge to urinate or an unexplained change in urinary habits. Other symptoms include: loss of appetite, feeling full, expanded abdomen, general fatigue, an unexplained change in menstruation, pelvic pain, and pain in the lower back. If there is a history of ovarian cancer in the family, a woman should be particularly aware of these symptoms and find a doctor that specializes in ovarian cancer.
When ovarian cancer cells show up in the body, they usually spread to surrounding tissue and organs. In more serious cases, ovarian cancer goes into the bloodstream and spreads to the lymph channels. The three main types of ovarian cancer tumors are Epithelial, Germ, and Stromal. The American Cancer Society reports that Epithelial tumors make up 85 to 90 percent of ovarian cancer tumors. The epithelium is the thin layer of tissue that protects the ovaries. There are early detection screening tests for ovarian cancer, but some of these tests lead to false positives. That is why it’s imperative to find a reputable doctor who can read tests correctly and perform the right tests.
Reputable doctors should perform a pelvic exam, an ultrasound, and a CA 125 blood test, which tests for abnormally high levels of the CA 125 protein in the blood. However, the test isn’t always accurate because high levels of this protein are signs of other ailments besides ovarian cancer. And patients with ovarian cancer in the early stages many times will have normal levels of CA 125. If the doctor is certain the victim has the disease, s/he will do a surgical procedure to figure out what is happening in the ovaries and surrounding areas and then give cancer a stage. Stage 1 is the earliest and Stage 4 is where cancer has spread to the abdomen and the organs.
Find Out If You Have A Medical Malpractice Injury Case
If you believe you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice, you should talk to an experienced lawyer about your case. Parker Scheer lawyers have successfully negotiated and tried dozens of Massachusetts medical malpractice and personal injury cases, recovering millions of dollars for their clients. Please contact us for a free confidential case review and receive a response within hours, or call (617) 886-0500. If you need a lawyer outside of Massachusetts, Nevada, please contact us for a referral.
