How Do I Know if I Should Be Screened for Liver Cancer?
Many people are at risk for liver cancer. Every year, over 27,000 Americans die of this disease. While there are several forms of liver cancer, some of which are hard to treat, as with most cancers, early diagnosis and treatment can make a huge difference in survival. There are well-established guidelines for who should receive certain types of liver cancer screening.
What Are The Risk Factors For Liver Cancer?
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis develops when liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar tissue. Most cirrhosis in the United States is caused by alcohol abuse. Other causes are NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), viral hepatitis (types B and C, as described below), and other rare types of chronic liver disease. Combined alcohol abuse and hepatitis virus infection puts people at high risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Obesity, NAFLD, and diabetes
Obesity causes fat to be deposited in the liver, which leads to NAFLD. Over the past decade, strong evidence has emerged suggesting that NAFLD and diabetes, a related disease, are increasingly important risk factors for liver cancer in the United States.
Viral Hepatitis
Hepatitis viruses are viruses that infect the liver. The two common types are hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis is the largest risk factor for liver cancer worldwide. Hepatitis C has become much more common than hepatitis B because there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis can be passed from person to person through exposure to blood or bodily fluids.
Age
In the United States, adult primary liver cancer occurs most often in people older than 60.
Gender
Men are more likely than women to develop liver cancer.
If you know you have cirrhosis or other risk factors, it is extremely important to talk with your doctor about whether you should be regularly screened for liver cancer.
Finding cancer before any symptoms have developed will increase the chance of successful treatment.
Screening options for liver cancer include testing the blood for a substance called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which may be produced by cancer cells, or having imaging tests like an ultrasound, computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Different guidelines apply to different causes of liver disease, so it is important that you are followed by a healthcare professional who is familiar with liver cancer and the various screening options.
What if My VA Doctor Does Not Offer or Did Not Do Liver Cancer Screening?
If a patient diagnosed with liver cancer met the guidelines for liver cancer screening and was not offered it, there is a possible medical malpractice case. In its internal policies, the VA recognizes that liver cancer screening is appropriate and necessary. Unfortunately, that screening is not always offered or done.
In any case involving the late diagnosis of liver cancer and/or death from liver cancer, a competent attorney should consider any issues relating to screening or the failure to screen. This is one of those areas where both the law and the medicine are complicated. It’s vital that an attorney have experience with both.
FAQs
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What types of Virginia medical malpractice cases does Rawls Law Group handle?
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We focus on serious medical negligence cases involving catastrophic injury or death, including surgical errors, delayed diagnosis, failure to diagnose cancer, emergency-room negligence, birth injuries, medication errors, radiology mistakes, infection and sepsis, nursing failures, and failures to follow up on abnormal test results.
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What evidence helps in a Virginia medical malpractice case?
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Medical records are usually the starting point. It can also help to preserve bills, discharge papers, photographs, written timelines, names of providers, and notes about important conversations. Patients and families should avoid posting about the case or injury on social media.
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Why are medical malpractice cases difficult?
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Medical malpractice cases are often complex, expensive, and heavily defended. They require careful review of medical records, strong expert support, and the ability to explain complicated medical issues clearly.
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What does it cost to hire Rawls Law Group for a medical malpractice case?
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We handle medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis. That means there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for the client. Case expenses and fee arrangements are explained before representation begins.
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What is the deadline to file a Virginia medical malpractice claim?
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Virginia medical malpractice cases have strict deadlines. In general, a lawsuit must be filed within two years, but there are exceptions and special rules that can affect the deadline. Anyone who suspects medical malpractice should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
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How do I know whether my injury was negligence or a known complication?
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Many medical procedures involve risks, and a known complication is not always malpractice. The question is whether the provider acted as a reasonably careful provider would have acted under the circumstances. If a complication happened because warning signs were missed, monitoring was inadequate, treatment was delayed, or the provider failed to follow the standard of care, the case should be reviewed.