November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
November 22, 2018
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, people across the country are preparing for the holidays, making travel plans, and reflecting on the things they are thankful for, including family, friends, and their good health. However, for thousands of people across the country who suffer from pancreatic cancer, November is also a time to bring much-needed attention to this terrible disease, provide hope to patients and their families, and raise funds for life-saving research into early detection resources.
Unfortunately, this disease is so fatal because it is difficult to diagnose in its early stages, but doctors should know common risk factors to look for, which can increase the chance of an early diagnosis. If a healthcare provider has misdiagnosed your cancer, or failed to recognize the symptoms of the disease, a skilled medical malpractice lawyer can help you pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit.
There are several risk factors that can help patients and doctors detect the disease in its early stages. However, many of these risk factors can be attributed to other diseases as well, which is one of the reasons why pancreatic cancer is so difficult to detect and diagnose. A pancreatic cancer diagnosis can be confirmed through a series of tests, including blood tests, CT or MRI scans, ultrasounds and, in some cases, a biopsy or tissue sample. The following are some of the common risk factors and symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
- Obesity
- Family history of pancreatic inflammation
- Diabetes
- History of smoking
- Genetic conditions, including Lynch syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, or familial atypical multiple mole melanoma
- Hepatitis B infection
Symptoms can include:
- Jaundice
- Abdominal and back pain
- Sudden weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Change in color of stool and urine
Important Information About Pancreatic Cancer
- Nearly 49,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in this country in 2015.
- Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers and healthcare professionals expect that it will be the second deadliest cancer by 2020.
- Close to 94 percent of pancreatic cancer patients will not live more than five years after they have been diagnosed.
- Men are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women.
- Over the past 40 years, the survival and recovery rate of pancreatic cancer has improved very little.
- Pancreatic cancer patients have a life expectancy of only three to six months if the cancer has metastasized.
Unfortunately, when pancreatic cancer is misdiagnosed, it can become fatal very quickly. If a healthcare professional is not proactive in screening and diagnosing the disease, the patient may pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit. Because of the difficulty in diagnosing pancreatic cancer, these can be very difficult cases, so consulting a skilled medical malpractice lawyer is highly recommended.
Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer Victims
If your healthcare provider failed to diagnose your pancreatic cancer, allowing the disease to spread, it is in your best interest to contact the Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. Early detection is critical to surviving this fatal disease, but if your doctor does not recognize the symptoms and risk factors until the cancer has metastasized, it is considerably more difficult to treat. We will review your medical records and determine whether your doctor was negligent in any way. Our dedicated team will secure the maximum financial compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent medical malpractice victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
