Liver cancer may be asymptomatic until it is at a later stage of the disease. While it is difficult to diagnose liver cancer early, it does not relieve doctors of their responsibility to use reasonable care to avoid the misdiagnosis of cancer. In some cases, a doctor’s failure to diagnose liver cancer may be malpractice and you may be entitled to legal damages.
When Liver Cancer May Be Suspected
The following may be symptoms of liver cancer, other types of cancer, or other diseases. If you experience these symptoms and your doctor does not conduct appropriate medical tests to determine the cause of the symptoms, then it is possible that your doctor may have committed medical malpractice.
Specifically, liver cancer may be suspected if you have:
- Liver disease, such as cirrhosis, that gets worse for no reason
- Unexplained weight loss and lack of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Swollen liver or spleen
- Stomach pain, swelling or itching
- Jaundice
- Some hormonal changes
Appropriate tests for liver cancer may include ultrasounds, CAT scans, MRIs, angiography, bone scans, laparoscopy, biopsies and blood tests.
When to Contact an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Attorney About the Misdiagnosis of Cancer
The failure to diagnose liver cancer can allow the disease to progress, cause you physical pain, more intense treatment than you otherwise would have required, and it may shorten your life. If the failure to diagnose your cancer was the result of medical malpractice, then you may be entitled to legal compensation for your injuries.
While the legal recovery can’t change what happened to you, it can help your family with the financial consequences of the misdiagnosis and it can help you afford the medical care that you deserve. To find out more about your rights and potential recovery, please call an experienced Atlanta cancer malpractice lawyer today at 1.770.518.1133 and please download a FREE copy of our book: Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Errors.