Tragically, some times a patient will do the right thing and tell his or her doctor that they are seeing blood in their stool only to be told by the doctor, without any tests, not to worry that it is probably just hemorrhoids. some time later this individual learns that the bleeding was really the result of a cancerous tumor in the colon. The individual now has advanced colon cancer that has reached the lymph nodes or even to a different organ, such as the liver or the lungs. What makes this happen and what options does the person and his or her family have when it does?
The first thing to note is that most physicians concur that when an individual presents with rectal bleeding or blood in the stool a colonoscopy should be conducted so as to determine the cause of the blood. The colonoscopy helps figure out whether the blood is from colon cancer or something else like hemorrhoids. However merely assuming that the blood is due to hemorrhoids risks missing a cancer.
Colon cancer is a disease that progresses over time. As it advances it gets more difficult to treat successfully. For instance, when the disease is in stage 1 or stage 2, it is still contained inside the wall of the colon. Treatment for these stages generally involves surgery to remove the tumor and adjacent areas of the colon. Chemotherapy is frequently not used in the treatment of stage 1 and stage 2 unless it may be given to a person who is young as a preventative treatment. With surgery, someone with stage 1 or stage 2 has a good chance of still being alive at least 5 years after diagnosis. The relative 5-year survival rate is over ninety percent for stage I and seventy three percent for stage II.
By the time the cancer has spread outside the colon. At this stage treatment calls for both surgery and chemotherapy (perhaps with other drugs ). The relative 5-year survival rate for stage 3 is fifty three percent. If it gets to stage 4, the relative 5-year survival rate is lowered to approximately 8%. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other medications may or may not still be effective. When treatment ceases to be effective, the disease becomes fatal. Roughly 48,000 men and women will die from colon cancer this year alone.
If the individual with rectal bleeding gets a colonoscopy and the tumor is discovered prior to spreading to the lymph nodes or to other organs, it can often be removed in the course of the colonoscopy if it is sufficiently small or by surgically extracting the part of the colon containing the tumor. Thus the additional time before diagnosis and treatment may be sufficient to allow the cancer to get an advanced stage. When this is the case, the patient will need to undergo additional treatments and will have a drastically decreased chance of living for at least five years beyond diagnosis. Subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the physician was responsible for the delay, this may give rise to a claim for medical malpractice, or in the most severe case, for wrongful death.
About the author of this article:
Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney accepting complex injury cases, including Medical Malpractice cases. You can learn more about stage 3 colon cancer and stage 4 colon cancer visit the website
Related posts:
- When Estrogen Dominates Your Not in Control Excess estrogen has led to estrogen dominance; causing hormonal imbalance in women at an ever-earlier age and to a significantly greater degree then has ever been known. Estrogen levels in women are naturally higher, but in their mid-30’s both estrogen and progesterone levels begin to drop in women. Progesterone levels drop to where a woman [...]...
- Stopping Cardiovascular Disease Now What is this disease and how can you prevent it? Cardiovascular disease refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system. It kills more Americans than cancer does every year and the rates are continually rising in a lot of countries. The interesting thing that most people do not know is that it accumulates from [...]...
- Finding the Elixir of Life Most people in America are now aware of the importance of exercising the benefits that regular exercise can bring them. As a result, these people turn to an aerobic form of exercise. This kind of exercising good, but it should be coupled with proper strength training as well. There are many benefits that are exclusive [...]...
- After Lasik – What You Need To Know Before entering into an agreement to undergo LASIK eye surgery, there are a few important facts to note. First and foremost, this surgery cannot be reversed. The procedure requires reshaping of the retina with the use of lasers. The tissue that is removed cannot be replaced later. Also, this does not guarantee you perfect vision. [...]...
- The Benefits Of Using Kangen Water There is one very important thing that many people who use kangen water, expect to get from it, and that is its properties for colon cleansing. Should you ever take the time to look into part of the health field you shall be able to see plenty of focus towards detoxification. There are plenty of [...]...
- Doctors And Becoming A Good One Life as a doctor can be rewarding as well as satisfying if one enjoys what they do on a daily basis. They know that their purpose is to take special care of their patients, and much of that has to do with everything they have learned from medical school even to the present day that [...]...
- Breast Surgery and Your Health When considering breast enlargement surgery, you should be aware of any health issues associated with this medical procedure. Breast Augmentation, or Breast Enlargement Surgery, is a medical procedure than involves enlarging the breasts. The purpose of the procedure is to create fuller and shapelier breasts. Women tend to choose this type of surgery because they [...]...
- What Is Oral Healths Impact On General Health? It is a well known fact that the state of the mouth can reflect what is going on with the rest of the body and how healthy it is. A dental examination, very possibly could show that there are problems elsewhere. Regular visits to the dentist are necessary as a way of viewing oral healths [...]...
- Surgical Options For Facial Sweating It’s not very unusual for some people to sweat excessively and feel socially embarrassed. At the same time, there are many who have managed to treat it also. Quite often people suffering from excessive sweating of face are hesitant to talk to doctor and seek medical advice. One shouldn’t overlook this problem or have an [...]...
- Looking Beautiful on a Budget – Wrinkle Repairs Q: I am in my early 50’s and I’m starting to see wrinkles. Many of my friends have gotten facelifts and Botox® injections but I’m terrified of needles and knives! Are there any over the counter products that will tighten my skin? A: Great question! You will know when you are saggy enough to warrant [...]...