Medical Malpractice Cases

In Washington & Oregon

Ovarian Cancer Information

Ovarian cancer is cancer that begins in the cells of the ovaries. According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer accounts for 4 percent of all cancers diagnosed among women. It also ranks fifth as a cause of their deaths from cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that there are over 25,000 new cases and over 16,000 deaths in the United States due to ovarian cancer annually. The death rate for this disease has not changed significantly over the last 50 years.

WARNING SIGNS

Ovarian cancer often does not show obvious signs or symptoms until later in its development. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:

• General abdominal discomfort and/or pain which may include gas, indigestion, pressure, bloating or cramping;
• Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination;
• Loss of appetite;
• Feeling of fullness even after a light meal;
• Weight gain or loss for no obvious reason;
• Abnormal bleeding from the vagina.

These symptoms may be caused by ovarian cancer or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to check with a doctor about any of these symptoms.

ROLE OF YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

To help find the cause of symptoms, a doctor will evaluate a woman's medical history. The doctor will also perform a physical exam and order diagnostic tests. Some exams and tests that may be useful are described below:

• A pelvic exam includes feeling the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum to find any abnormality in their shape or size. A Pap test, often done along with the pelvic exam, is not a reliable way to find or diagnose ovarian cance:
• Ultrasound may also be employed to determine the shape and size of the ovaries and abdominal organs in general:
• The CA-125 assay is a blood test used to measure the level of CA-125, a tumor marker that is often found in higher-than-normal amounts in the blood of women with ovarian cancer:
• A lower GI series, or barium enema, is a series of x-rays of the colon and rectum. The pictures are taken after the patient is given an enema with a solution containing barium. The barium outlines the colon and rectum on the x-ray, making tumors on the ovaries or other abnormal areas easier to see:
• A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine:
• A biopsy of a suspect area may also be performed.

If the diagnosis is ovarian cancer, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body. Staging may involve surgery, x-rays and other imaging procedures, and lab tests.

Any suspicious findings from the screening procedures must be thoroughly investigated. Cancer must be definitely diagnosed or ruled out.

DELAYED DIAGNOSIS AND FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE OVARIAN CANCER

If ovarian cancer is detected early, survival rates are very high with rapid and appropriate treatment. The more common forms of medical malpractice committed by doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer are:

• Failure to order appropriate tests when a patient shows possible symptoms;
• Failure to perform a biopsy when the screening protocol results are abnormal;
• Failure to properly interpret biopsy results;
• Failure to respond quickly to biopsy results;
• Failure to advise appropriate treatment options.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT THERE WAS A DELAY IN DIAGNOSING MY OVARIAN CANCER?

If you have concerns or doubts about whether a doctor failed to make a timely diagnosis of your ovarian cancer - or that of a loved one - you owe it to yourself and your family to find out for sure. Contact an attorney at Fuller & Fuller for a FREE consultation. Our firm has been associated with many failure to diagnose cancer cases. Fuller & Fuller serves people whose claims arose in the states of Washington and Oregon.

To determine whether you have a strong claim, these are among the factors that are analyzed:

• Whether the malpractice took place within the time allowed to bring a claim, or whether it is barred by the statute of limitations;
• Whether the delay in diagnosis was longer than is reasonable by the standards of the medical community in which the doctor practices;
• Whether the doctor failed to perform appropriate testing to allow an informed diagnosis;
• Whether the doctor failed to administer the necessary medical or surgical procedures;
• How much money in damages would be appropriate to compensate the patient, or the patient's spouse or family members.

You have nothing to lose by consulting an attorney. It is always in your best interest to learn about your legal options and make sure that your legal rights are preserved. A medical malpractice case is also about righting a wrong, holding the medical community responsible, and raising the level of care so that the same thing does not happen to another patient.

RISK FACTORS

While the presence of one or more of the following risk factors may increase the probability of contracting ovarian cancer, it does not necessarily mean the disease will occur. Vigilance is critical in watching for early symptoms. Risk factors include:

• Personal or family history of breast, ovarian, endometrial, prostate or colon cancer;
• Increasing age - Most ovarian cancers occur in women over the age of 50, with the highest risk in women over 60;
• Unexplained infertility - No pregnancies and no history of birth control pill usage;
• Use of high doses of estrogen for long periods without progesterone may be a risk factor;
• Northern European and/or Ashkenazi Jewish heritage;
• Living in an industrialized country;
• Childbearing - The more children a woman has had, the less likely she is to develop ovarian cancer.

You can take charge of your health by reducing your risk factors, knowing the signs that may indicate a problem, getting prompt and thorough testing, and making certain your doctor gives you appropriate treatment.

Early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer is vital to reduce the likelihood of life-threatening complications. If you are concerned that your doctor did not detect or treat your cancer soon enough, please contact Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys, for a free evaluation of your claim. Fuller & Fuller is a family of medical malpractice lawyers serving residents of the states of Washington and Oregon.

OVARIAN CANCER RESOURCES

You may find some of the following links helpful. Fuller & Fuller does not endorse the information in the links.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
http://www.ovarian.org

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
http://www.ovariancancer.org

National Ovarian Cancer Association
http://www.ovariancanada.org

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/ovary/page1

American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org

 

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Fuller & Fuller is a family of medical malpractice and serious injury lawyers serving residents of Washington and Oregon.