Gallbladder cancer is a form of cancer that affects the tissues of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a somewhat small, pear-shaped organ located just below the liver on the right side of the abdominal cavity. The function of the gallbladder is to store the bile and digestive fluids produced by the liver.
The incidence rate of gallbladder cancer is low, making it a fairly rare type of cancer. If the disease is diagnosed in the early stages, the chances of a successful recovery are very good. That being said, most cases of gallbladder cancer are not detected early, and the later stages of the disease make the chances of recovery quite low.
The main reason gallbladder cancer often goes undiagnosed until it is in the late stages is because there are very few early warning signs or symptoms. Also, the location of the gallbladder makes it difficult to see, which may mean that cancer may be growing in it for a long time without being seen.
As mentioned above, gallbladder cancer is quite rare, usually affecting people over the age of seventy. The disease affects women more than men, which could be due to the fact that women tend to live longer than men. Misdiagnoses of gallbladder cancer are often due to the fact that the disease is very rare and that most technicians and other medical personnel do not detect it early. There are a number of risk factors associated with gallbladder cancer, including: inflammation, gallstones, family history of the disease, polyps, obesity, smoking, abnormal bile ducts, and porcelain gallbladder.
Unfortunately, there are few definitive symptoms of gallbladder cancer in its earliest form. That being said, there are times when a surgeon may notice particular abnormalities and request further testing when removing gallstones. However, for the most part, gallbladder cancer is only found in the later stages, when symptoms begin to appear. These symptoms may include: sudden pain that may come and go in the right side of the abdominal area, general malaise, or high fever. This form of cancer can also cause the bile ducts to become blocked leading to the digestive system from the gallbladder, which can cause the body to reabsorb bile, which can lead to a number of secondary symptoms, including jaundice. Because these symptoms can also be associated with conditions that are much less serious, such as gallstones, it’s not uncommon to misdiagnose gallbladder cancer altogether. This fact, when combined with the problem of elderly patients not seeking immediate medical attention, can lead to life-threatening complications.
In the event that medical attention is sought, but tests are not ordered, not properly tested, or the symptoms have simply been dismissed as a minor condition until the cancer has spread, medical malpractice may have occurred. When this happens, it is in your best interest to contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in medical malpractice and malpractice cases.
The personal injury lawyers who work in this field are very familiar with all the ins and outs that surround these types of cases, and will work hard to ensure that your claim is handled correctly. While they can’t undo the damage that’s been done, they can help you recover the damage in an attempt to rebuild part of your life.
Since medical malpractice and medical malpractice cases can be quite complex in nature, and because the laws surrounding these types of cases can vary greatly from state to state, it is not recommended that you attempt to file the lawsuit on your own. Missing just one detail, a filing deadline, or any other mishap can completely ruin your chances of seeking the damages you are entitled to receive.
Most personal injury lawyers take medical malpractice and malpractice cases on a contingency basis, which means you don’t have to pay anything up front. This can be a great comfort because you can be sure that your claim is being handled professionally without the added worry of how to finance it as it moves through the court system. This means that you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.
Medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely serious and, especially when related to misdiagnosis of gallbladder cancer, can be completely devastating. It is important that you understand that you have legal rights and that you must take steps to enforce those rights. You can seek compensation for your pain and suffering, your past, present, and future medical bills, and even lost earnings from having to quit your job. Not only will you be securing your future, but you will also be taking steps to help prevent similar cases from happening to other innocent parties in the future. No one should have to put up with this kind of treatment, and all too often medical professionals slip the issue without blemishes being applied to their record, leaving other patients clueless about their mistakes.
Medical professionals, like many other professionals, are expected to provide a particular duty of care. Those in the medical community even take an oath upon licensing. They swear “to do no harm” in any case. By providing the care that is missing, or by not taking the time to make a proper diagnosis or follow-up, you do yourself damage, and in many cases, this damage cannot be undone. This breach of duty should not have occurred, and cannot and should not be ignored. Nor should it be allowed to go unpunished. You should not delay in contacting a personal injury lawyer to help you with your case. These professionals will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice and you receive everything that corresponds to you.
