Comments Off May 25th, 2010

Do Not Way To Speak With Your Physician When You Observe Symptoms That Are Suspicious For Colon Cancer

I will never forget the moment I was told I had cancer. As an attorney I had handled claims involving the delayed diagnosis of cancer and yet even this experience had not prepared me for hearing those words used to reference my own diagnosis. Because I had worked as a delayed diagnosis of cancer lawyer and learned the symptoms of several different types of cancers, including advanced colon cancer I did not hesitate when I began to encounter symptoms myself.

I consulted with my primary care physician who agreed that while I was not yet fifty years old and so was not a candidate for regular screening for colon cancer and even though I did not have anyone in my family with colon cancer colon cancer (at the time) that I should nonetheless undergo a colonoscopy to eliminate cancer as the cause of my symptoms.

The colonoscopy revealed that I had a significant cancerous tumor in my colon. Surgery confirmed that it had by then begun spreading and was stage 3 colon cancer. Not good news. The one good part of this was that at least it was not stage 4 colon cancer. Still it was nonetheless metastatic colon cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. And I had an instant of true fear and uncertainty when I was given the news. I knew that my chances of long term survival were just about even. Regardless of the fact that I was an attorney and had previously handled medical malpractice claims, even lawsuits concerning colon cancer, did not stop that instant of real panic and terror. For at that moment I thought I was going to die

At that time I reached out to a friend who was also a lawyer and had been one of my mentors. I think it must have been instinct that I reached out to him first. He did not sugar coat it. This was exactly what I neededat the time. Another voice to express out loud what the reality was and what had to be done. He then offered to help with whatever I needed. And later the managing partner at the firm, another good friend, offered to handle all my cases during my treatment. He offered to do this, not for any compensation, but just out of friendship. I have alwats been grateful to him for that.

Even though I took a few weeks to recuperate from surgery and even though there were times while undergoing chemotherapy that I needed to just rest, I was, for the most part, able to continue working. This gave me tremendous satisfaction. I felt that I was able to carry my weight and lead pretty much a normal life throughout my treatment and seven years after my treatment I exhibit no evidence of cancer. If I had waited perhaps even a number of months the cancer could have spread further and I most likely would not have survived.

The lesson for everyone is to get the correct test when you show symptoms of colon cancer. The best way to allow oneself the maximum treatment possibilities and the greatest possibility of beating the cancer is to diagnose and treat it early.

In the event that a doctor does not make an appropriate referral or order the right tests given complaints of symptoms (especially blood in the stool) and the individual later passes away on account of the cancer, then a wrongful death lawyer may be able to assist the family.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at 3:54 amand is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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