While there are several forms of cancer that begin in the small intestine, one form called adenocarcinoma is particularly hard to diagnose correctly. Residents of New York who share the following symptoms may want to see their doctor or get a second opinion, as the case may be, so that they do not incur further harm through a delayed diagnosis.

Unfortunately, it takes several months on average from the time the symptoms appear for patients to receive a correct diagnosis. The first symptom is pain in the stomach area, which could be mistaken as a cramp since it usually arises or worsens after one has eaten. The adenocarcinoma develops into a tumor that hinders digestion, leading to vomiting, nausea, and severe pain.

Similar symptoms will appear if the tumor creates a hole in the wall of the intestines. The tumor could also bleed. If the bleeding is slow, it could lead to anemia, and if it is fast, it will make one’s stool dark and tarry in addition to causing frequent light-headedness. In rare cases, jaundice can develop if adenocarcinoma is located in the first part of the small intestines (the duodenum) and obstructs the bile duct.

The symptoms won’t disappear on their own, so a doctor who fails to diagnose the disease on a timely basis might be found to have committed medical malpractice if the patient is harmed as a result. Victims can turn to a medical malpractice attorney for a case evaluation, where the attorney determines whether a previous doctor-patient relationship existed and whether the doctor failed to adhere to the requisite standard of care.