As the name suggests, liver cancer originates in the liver and is one of the most dangerous and fast-spreading cancers known. The majority affected is the elderly population, and a delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis could prove fatal. Cancer that starts in the liver is called primary liver cancer, while cancers that start in other organs and spread to the liver are called secondary liver cancer.
As the name suggests, liver cancer originates in the liver and is one of the most dangerous and fast-spreading cancers known. The majority affected is the elderly population, and a delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis could prove fatal. Cancer that starts in the liver is called primary liver cancer, while cancers that start in other organs and spread to the liver are called secondary liver cancer.
Symptoms
The symptoms of liver cancer usually emerge only when the cancer has advanced to a higher stage, and can be vague. Some signs of liver cancer include:
· Rapid weight loss for no apparent reason
· Nausea and vomiting
· Jaundice
· Fatigue
Liver cancer must be diagnosed as soon as any of these symptoms are noticed. When the cancer is allowed to grow to an advanced stage, its severity may disrupt the liver’s critical bodily functions, and lead to catastrophic complications such as cirrhosis (liver damage) or death. Some of these functions that get interrupted include controlling blood clotting, getting rid of toxins from the body, secretion of bile to help digestion and break down fats, and others.
The resultant complications can impact the entire body. It is recommended that senior citizens get a complete health check-up periodically to rule out or diagnose liver cancer at an early stage so that it can be treated.
Diagnosis and Treatment
A successful course of treatment for liver cancer is possible only when it is detected at an early stage. Liver cancer is known to advance in four stages – A, B, C, and D. The first stage alone gives a possibility of cure through surgery, while the other three stages are life threatening. Stage D is the most advanced where the spreading of the cancer cannot be controlled at all.
Treatment measures include:
· Resection of liver, where the affected region alone is removed
· Liver transplant – replacing the damaged liver with a healthy one
· Radiofrequency ablation – killing cancer cells through heat
Claim of Misdiagnosis
A case of clinical negligence and medical malpractice comes into play when the medical expert fails to diagnose or appropriately treat the liver cancer. A delay in diagnosis due to negligence, mixing up biopsy reports and providing incorrect test results, failure to diagnose the spreading of liver cancer, surgical errors while operating on the liver, improper administration of chemotherapy or radiation, are all considered medical malpractice.
Failure to recognize the signs and symptoms, leading to wrong diagnosis is also considered medical negligence. Besides these, a patient who does not have liver cancer, getting exposed to dangerous radiation and treatment for cancer due to negligent reading of his test results, is a medical malpractice that can risk the life of the affected person.
Once a diagnosis of liver cancer is done, it is inherent for the physician to be transparent about the treatment options and each of their impacts, and ensure that it is pursued with the highest standard of care and attention.
Call us now
For legal assistance against medical malpractice, contact our New York City medical malpractice attorneys now. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff have law offices located in Astoria, Queens, New York City, and two locations in Brooklyn.
If RMFW accepts your case – you pay nothing until we win your case! Call 212-344-1000 for a free consultation. We know a winning case when we see one. We know the legal arena and we are not intimidated by the opposition.
