Warning To Doctors - Stick To The Cancer Screening Recommendations Or Risk A Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Basically, metastatic prostate cancer refers to when the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland and has reached other locations of the body, most often the bones in the lower back, pelvic area or upper legs. This is the most advanced stage of the cancer. By the time it reaches this level, there is no known cure. This is different from the early stages, prior to the cancer advancing beyond the gland, when there is a very high likelihood of a cure. The key question changes at this advanced stage. Now the key question is how long treatments, which might include hormonal therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may help for a time stop or at least reduce the continuing progression on the cancer.
How long the treatment will be effective depends on several factors, including the Gleason score the PSA level (an antigen that rises as the cancer grows and spreads), the location and extent of the spread, and other factors such as the patient’s age and general non-cancer related health. Ordinarily, however, treatment will stop working at some point. When this happens the individual normally receives palliative treatment, intended not to treat the disease, but rather as a way of treating the symptoms, particularly through pain management. Two of the most frequent symptoms are weight loss and severe pain. The pain is due largely from the spread of the cancer in the bone.
Unfortunately, all too frequently doctors either do not talk about screening tests with men or ignore abnormal test results before the cancer advances. If this happens the patient may have a medical malpractice case against that physician. People with a delayed diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer or advanced breast cancer whose doctors did not follow the recommended screening guidelines for those cancers might also have a medical malpractice case against the responsible doctor.
Do not take any of the material in this post as medical advice. If you have any concerns concerning your health you should immediately speak with a doctor. Similarly, if you feel you may have a medical malpractice claim, because the law limits the amount of time you have in which to pursue any such claim or claims, you ought to speak to a lawyer immediately.
