| ancer is the second leading reason for deaths due | | | | time frame in which the colon cancer is detected |
| to cancer. Every year, roughly forty eight | | | | and treated results in a significant difference. If |
| thousand individuals will pass away from colon | | | | discovered and treated early, the patient has an |
| cancer. A large number of these fatalities might | | | | excellent chance of surviving the disease. When |
| be prevented with early detection and treatment | | | | diagnosis and treatment is delayed, the odds begin |
| through routine colon cancer testing of | | | | turning from the person so that if the cancer |
| asymptomatic individuals. | | | | gets to the lymph nodes, the percentage is |
| If the disease is detected as a small polyp in the | | | | almost even. And the probability drops |
| course of a routine screening test, such as a | | | | precipitously once the cancer reaches Stage IV. |
| colonoscopy, the polyp might be able to be | | | | But, too frequently physicians fail to suggest |
| removed in the course of the colonoscopy | | | | standard cancer testing to men and women who |
| without the need for the surgical removal of any | | | | do not display any symptoms. When the cancer is |
| portion of the colon. Once the polyp grows to the | | | | ultimately found - many times due to the fact |
| point where it becomes cancerous and gets to | | | | that the tumor has become so large that it is |
| Stage I or Stage II, the tumor and a portion of | | | | leading to blockage, since the individual is anemic |
| the colon on both sides is surgical removed. The | | | | and it is getting progressively worse, or since the |
| likelihood that the individual will survive the cancer | | | | individual begins to detect other indications - the |
| is over ninety percent for Stage 1 and 73% for | | | | cancer has already reached a Stage 3 or even a |
| Stage II. | | | | Stage 4. The patient now confronts a much |
| If the disease gets to a Stage III, a colon | | | | different outlook than he or she would have if the |
| resection is not enough and the person also needs | | | | cancer had been detected early through standard |
| to undergo chemotherapy. At this stage the | | | | screening tests. |
| likelihood that the patient will still be alive more | | | | Attorneys who handle cancer cases often classify |
| than five years after the diagnosis drops to fifty | | | | this as a loss of chance of a better |
| three percent, depending on such variables as the | | | | recovery. That is to say, because the doctor |
| quantity of lymph nodes that contain cancer. | | | | failed to recommend that the person undergo |
| By the time the colon cancer reaches Stage 4, | | | | routine screening test, the cancer is now |
| treatment may require the use of chemotherapy | | | | considerably more advanced and the individual has |
| and perhaps other drugs and even surgery on | | | | a much reduced chance of surviving the cancer. |
| various organs. Should the measurement and | | | | The failure of a doctor to recommend the patient |
| number of tumors in other organs (for example, | | | | undergo screening options for colon cancer may |
| the liver and lungs) are small enough, surgery to | | | | constitute medical malpractice. |
| remove the cancer from those other organs | | | | You need to contact a lawyer immediately should |
| might be the initial treatment, followed by | | | | you feel your colon cancer was not diagnosed |
| chemotherapy. Sometimes the dimensions or | | | | until it had already reached an advanced stage |
| number of tumors in the different organs | | | | because of a doctor’s not suggesting |
| removes the option of surgery as part of the | | | | routine colon cancer screening. This article is for |
| treatment. | | | | general informational purposes only and should not |
| If chemotherapy and additional drugs are able to | | | | be considered legal (or medical) advice. For any |
| lower the quantity and dimensions of these | | | | health concerns, contact a physician. Should you |
| tumors, surgery might at that point turn out to | | | | think you might have a medical malpractice case |
| be an option as the second form of treatment. If | | | | consult with a lawyer immediately. A competent |
| not, chemotherapy and other drugs (perhaps | | | | attorney experienced in handling cancer claims can |
| from clinical trials) may temporarily halt or reduce | | | | assist determine whether you have a claim for a |
| the further spread of the cancer. The relative | | | | delay in the diagnosis of colon cancer due to a |
| 5-year survival rate is reduced to around eight | | | | failure on the part of a doctor to recommend |
| percent. | | | | colon cancer screening. |
| As the relative 5-year survival rates show, the | | | | |