One day that will always be in my mind is the day I learnedIn my law practice I had handled claims regarding the delayed diagnosis of cancer and yet even this experience did not prepare me for listening to those words used to talk about my own diagnosis. Given that I had worked as a delayed diagnosis of cancer lawyer and knew the symptoms of a number of distinct kinds of cancers, including colon cancer I did not hesitate the moment I began to show symptoms myself. I consulted with my family doctor who advised that despite the fact that I was not yet fifty years old and so was not a candidate for routine screening for colon cancer and although I had no family history of colon cancer (at the time) that I should nonetheless undergo a colonoscopy to eliminate cancer as the source of my symptoms.
The colonoscopy uncovered that I had a substantial cancerous tumor . Surgery confirmed that it had already begun spreading and was stage 3 colon cancer. Not good news. I knew there was a positive part of this was that it was not stage 4 colon cancer. However it was metastatic colon cancer which had reached my lymph nodes. And I had an instant of genuine fear and uncertainty when I was given the news. I knew that my odds of long term survival were only about fifty percent. The fact that I was a lawyer and had previously handled medical malpractice cases, even claims regarding colon cancer, did not prevent that instant of genuine panic and fear. I still believed I would die
At that time I reached out to a friend who was also a lawyer and had been one of my mentors. I think it was pure instinct that I reached out to him first. He was completely straightforward about everything. This was precisely what I neededat the time. Someone else to say out loud what the truth was and what had to be done. He then offered to help with whatever I needed. After that the managing partner at the firm, another colleague and fried, offered to handle all my cases during my treatment. He offered to do this, not for any compensation, but just out of friendship. I have always been grateful to him for that.
While I required a few weeks to recuperate following surgery and even though there were days during the chemotherapy that I needed to just rest, I was, for the most part, able to continue working. This gave me immense pleasure. I felt that I was able to carry my weight and lead more or less a regular life throughout my treatment and seven years later I show no evidence of cancer. If I had waited perhaps even a number of months the cancer could have continued to advance and I in all likelihood would have lost the battle against this dreadful disease.
I now have regular testing to monitor whether the cancer is returning. Further, I receive yearly screening for prostate cancer. If a doctor does not discuss cancer screening or fails to react to a patient’s cancer symptoms and the patient later is discovered to have cancer that doctor might be risk a lawsuit for medical negligence
Clearly, should you have symptoms that could be caused by colon cancer getting the correct test immediately might save your life. In the event that you are able to discover the cancer sufficiently early best of all while it is just a polyp you will have increased treatment possibilities and a much better possibility of surviving.
When a physician does not make a suitable referral or order proper tests when the patient has complaints of symptoms (especially blood in the stool) and the individual later passes away on account of the cancer, then a wrongful death lawyer might be able to assist the survivors.
The above is simply basic information that is commonly obtainable and is intended for basic educational purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice. Talk to with a physician if you have any health related problems and prior to accepting any medical advice. In addition, the above is also not legal advice. Check with a lawyer with regards to any possible legal issues.