Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer: The Ying-Yang Effect of Disease Modifying Therapies
Stage 4 Bedsores In Nursing Homes
What Are Bedsores or Pressure Ulcers?Bedsores are also known as pressure ulcers, pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers. They are injuries to the skin and deeper tissues beneath the skin that are caused by continual pressure, usually by remaining immobile.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 10 nursing home residents develops the painful skin condition.
Bedsores often occur on bony areas of the body, like:
There are four stages of bedsores, which range from the least severe (stage 1) to most severe (stage 4). Healthy skin can quickly advance to a stage 4 bedsore if not treated properly.
Since bedsores can be very painful, preventing them in vulnerable and frail nursing home residents is critical. Failure to do so can often be considered nursing home abuse.
Causes of Bedsores and Pressure UlcersBedsores are often caused by a lack of movement. They can be common in people who are bedridden or use a wheelchair. People with mobility issues often need a fair amount of assistance. Sadly, those who don't get help moving around are at risk for developing bedsores.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the three leading causes of bedsores include:
Bedsores can quickly worsen if they are not treated promptly. With proper care, stage 3 and 4 bedsores are almost always preventable. That's why bedsores at more advanced stages can be a sign of nursing home abuse.
Learn More About Your OptionsIf you or your loved one experienced bedsores in a nursing home facility, an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer with Sokolove Law can help you understand your legal options.
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Stages of BedsoresBedsores fall into one of four stages based on their depth and severity. This staging system helps health care providers determine the best treatment to allow for the quickest recovery. If bedsores are caught early enough, they can heal in just a few days.
The four stages of bedsores are:
Stage 1 and stage 2 bedsores are not necessarily indicative of negligence. However, you can bring up your concerns to your local nursing home ombudsman. The other two stages of bedsores, however, may indicate negligence has occurred in the nursing home or assisted living facility.
Stage 3 bedsores have broken through the top two layers of skin, affecting the fatty tissue beneath the skin. They may resemble a crater and may also have an odor.
Stage 4 bedsores are the most serious and have a high risk for complications, including life-threatening infections. This is because they extend into deep tissues like muscle, tendons, and ligaments. In some cases, they can even reach cartilage or bone.
Stage 4 Bedsores or Pressure UlcersStage 4 bedsores or pressure injuries can be extremely painful. Symptoms of bedsores at this advanced stage are most noticeable around the affected area. There may also be a dark substance in the open sore called eschar, which is hardened tissue that has died because of the wound.
Stage 4 Bedsores Signs and SymptomsThe signs and symptoms of stage 4 bedsores are very troubling. There may be signs of severe infection, exposed muscles, and even visible areas of bone.
Additional signs and symptoms of stage 4 bedsores include:
If you or a loved one have any signs or symptoms of stage 4 bedsores, seek medical advice as soon as possible. They can very quickly turn into life-threatening complications.
After seeking medical advice, you may be able to hold the care facility accountable for their negligence by taking legal action. Get a free case review or call (800) 995-1212 today to see if nursing home neglect lawyers with Sokolove Law can help you.
Who's at Risk of Stage 4 Bedsores?People who are paralyzed or have mobility issues are at greater risk of developing stage 4 bedsores, which puts elderly nursing home residents at particular risk.
Caregivers to those who are unable to move on their own must be especially careful to ensure blood is still flowing to areas that are compressed.
Some additional risk factors for stage 4 bedsores include:
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Stage 4 Bedsore Life ExpectancyWith proper treatment, stage 4 bedsore life expectancy is high. According to the Merck Manual, 30% of stage 4 bedsores heal within six months, though some cases of stage 4 bedsores may take anywhere from several months to two years to fully heal.
Without treatment, however, the long-term prognosis for a stage 4 bedsore becomes poor. The following complications of stage 4 bedsores can be life-threatening:
According to the CDC, 35% of nursing home residents with stage 2 or higher bedsores need wound care by trained professionals.
Treatment options for stage 4 bedsores often focus on:
During treatment for stage 4 bedsores, emphasis should be placed on proper nutrition and hydration, which can be critical to support wound healing.
Unfortunately, surgery may be necessary in some cases to close the wounds if they are not healing properly with other treatments.
Get Help Pursuing Stage 4 Bedsore Lawsuit Settlement AmountsMonitoring the care your loved one receives in a nursing home is of critical importance. Watching for stage 1 or 2 bedsores may help prevent the excruciating pain and needless suffering that can happen as bedsores worsen.
Because of the highly preventable nature of advanced bedsores, you may be able to hold the nursing home staff accountable for their negligence through a stage 4 bedsore lawsuit. Compensation from a lawsuit may also help you afford better care and life-saving medical treatments for your loved one.
As a national nursing home abuse law firm, Sokolove Law has decades of experience helping victims of nursing home abuse and their loved ones pursue justice and compensation for their injuries.
Over the last 45+ years, we've recovered over $280 Million on behalf of thousands of nursing home abuse clients nationwide.
Get a free case review or call (800) 995-1212 today to learn more about your options and see if Sokolove Law may be able to help.
Stage 4 Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers FAQs Can you sue a nursing home for bedsores?In many cases, yes. You may be able to sue a nursing home if you or a loved one developed a severe bedsore while under the care of a medical professional, because bedsores are preventable with proper care.
Bedsores at stages 3 or 4 are often caused by neglect; otherwise, they would not have advanced. Learn more about filing a stage 4 bedsore lawsuit now for free.
What is the average stage 4 bedsore lawsuit settlement amount?Generally, the average nursing home abuse settlement is worth around $400,000 — though we've recovered far more for many families.
In one case, we recovered over $1.5 Million in stage 4 bedsore settlements for a woman in Minnesota who suffered nursing home neglect.
See if your family may qualify for stage 4 bedsore lawsuit settlement amounts now.
What causes bedsores in nursing homes?Bedsores in nursing homes are usually caused by neglect, which is a form of elder abuse. This is because many nursing home residents need help moving around or spend most of the day sitting or lying down.
Without the assistance of nursing home staff, remaining immobile can put prolonged pressure on body parts and cause bedsores.
If the pressure is not relieved, bedsores can worsen in a very short period of time into stage 3 or stage 4, which may require medical treatment or surgery.
If you or a loved one suffered bedsores while in the care of a nursing home, contact Sokolove Law today.
What is a stage 4 bedsore?A stage 4 bedsore is the most severe and dangerous stage of bedsores. At stage 4, the injury is very deep, and the muscle or bone is exposed.
Serious complications can occur at this stage, usually caused by any number of common infections that can turn into sepsis.
How much are stage 4 bedsore lawsuit settlement amounts?Stage 4 bedsore lawsuit settlement amounts vary based on the cost and severity of injury. This could include the cost of medical bills, the need to relocate to a different nursing home, or even wrongful death.
A skilled nursing home abuse law firm can help you:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bedsores or pressure ulcers occur in more than 1 in 10 residents in nursing homes.
How long can you live with a stage 4 bedsore?If a patient gets proper treatment, stage 4 bedsores are generally treatable. However, it can take up to two years for the sores to heal completely.
If a stage 4 bedsore gets infected and remains untreated, it can quickly lead to death, especially in already sick or frail nursing home residents.
Can you get sepsis from bedsores?Sepsis can develop from any break in the skin. This is because sepsis is caused by common infections that worsen.
Open wounds are highly susceptible to germs and bacteria and must always be monitored for signs of infection to prevent the injury from becoming more severe.
What does a stage 3 bedsore look like?A stage 3 bedsore looks like an open wound with the tissue damage under the skin's surface being visible.
A stage 3 bedsore tends to be crater-like and may also expose muscle or bone.
What does a stage 4 bedsore look like?A stage 4 bedsore is a very deep crater with skin that appears to be extensively damaged. Muscle and bone are likely to be visible in these cases.
What causes stage 4 bedsores?Stage 4 bedsores are caused by untreated bedsores in the earlier stages. Bedsores can be prevented by inspecting the skin daily for redness, with special attention being placed on bony areas.
Because stage 4 bedsores are almost always preventable, bedsores at this stage are often caused by nursing home neglect or abuse.
Can you recover from stage 4 bedsores?With prompt treatment, 30% of stage 4 bedsores resolve, according to the Merck Manual. However, if the stage 4 bedsore doesn't receive proper care, the long-term outcome is poor.
If the wound ever heals, it can take years, and infection can quickly cause deadly complications.
Why are pressure ulcers issues in elderly care?The aging population is more likely to have mobility issues, incontinence, and chronic health conditions that can lead to pressure ulcers without proper care.
Since aging care facilities are notoriously understaffed, pressure ulcer issues are unfortunately very common.
If you or a loved suffered pressure ulcers in a nursing home, you may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit. Contact Sokolove Law today to learn more.
Longer Life Expectancy For Childhood Cancer Survivors
Study shows childhood cancer survivors can likely expect to have a longer life expectancy due to improvements in treatment over a 30-year period.
The ChallengeAlthough advances in childhood and adolescent cancer treatment have been associated with increased rates of cure in the past 3 decades, improvement in adult life expectancy has not yet been reported.
As adults, childhood cancer survivors have higher risks of developing serious long-term problems and of dying prematurely. Nearly 1 in 3 survivors have a severe or life-threatening condition 20 years after their diagnosis of childhood cancer.
A goal of current and recent clinical trials in childhood cancer is to reduce the intensity of effective treatment with radiotherapy and with some chemotherapies to reduce later long-term side effects. The trials have shown that reduced treatment exposures are associated with a lower risk of premature death among survivors in the 15 years after their initial diagnosis. But researchers don't yet know how these reduced treatment exposures affect overall life expectancy for childhood cancer survivors.
The ResearchJennifer Yeh, PhD, and her co-workers received support from an American Cancer Society (ACS) research grant to learn more about life expectancy for people who were first diagnosed with childhood cancer across 3 decades, between the years 1970 to 1999. They specifically were interested in whether the improvements in treatment and care are lengthening the shortened life expectancy of childhood cancer survivors.
In their recently published results, Yeh's research team described their work method, cohort simulation. Cohort simulation uses a hypothetical or computer-generated (simulated) group of people to estimate the trends of certain diseases over a period of time. Their model created hypothetical cohorts of 5-year survivors of childhood cancer that were representative of participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. For each cohort, they evaluated conditional life expectancy, defined as the number of years a 5-year cancer survivor can expect to live.
The data they studied came from reported cases of children and adolescents who were diagnosed with bone tumors, central nervous system tumors, Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, neuroblastoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, and Wilms tumor.
They found that conditional life expectancy increased for people who were treated the most recently—with more advanced treatments. When the initial diagnosis was between:
Yeh's team also looked at survival and life expectancy for 4 different types of treatment. Compared to those without a history of childhood cancer, children who were diagnosed in the 1970s and treated with:
Although Yeh's team found improvements in life expectancy across treatment types, treatments involving radiotherapy showed the least improvement. This suggests that more and better treatment options are needed for cancer types that are currently best treated with radiation.
These findings also emphasize the importance for survivors of childhood cancer to have regular follow-up care and take action to reduce their risks of developing heart disease and new cancers. In Yeh's study, these health conditions were the leading causes of death in all treatment subgroups.
Guidelines for care and follow-up care based on specific exposures during childhood are provided by the Children's Oncology Group.
Stage 4 Breast Cancer: Understanding Palliative And Hospice Care
If you have stage 4 breast cancer, you may consider palliative care or hospice care so you're the most comfortable you can be as you near end of life. Here's how to decide which option is best for you.
Many misconceptions exist about these types of care. Here's what you need to know to better understand these options.
The goal of palliative care is to help a person feel better rather than to cure or treat the cancer itself. It can be used alone or along with any standard cancer treatment options.
When palliative care is appropriate
Palliative care is always appropriate — right from the first diagnosis. Though this type of care can and should be used along with end-of-life care, palliative care is certainly not used exclusively in those situations.
It can be used alongside any recommended treatments that target the cancer itself. It can also help treat any unwanted side effects of the cancer treatment.
How palliative care helps
Palliative care is about helping a person live as fully as possible. While cancer treatment works to prolong life, palliative care works to improve the quality of that life.
The physical and emotional support of palliative care can be an incredible comfort during an incredibly difficult period.
Hospice care is end-of-life care for people with an end stage cancer diagnosis who either have no treatment options or choose not to prolong their life with standard treatments.
This type of care involves medications and other treatments to:
Hospice care can be administered in the following settings:
When hospice care is appropriate
Hospice is appropriate when the patient is no longer pursuing cancer treatment and has a life expectancy of less than 6 months if the illness is left untreated. As per CMS guidelines for payment, this time period also matters.
It can be a difficult decision, but the earlier hospice care begins, the more benefit a person receives. It's important not to wait too late to begin hospice care if it's needed.
When hospice workers have longer to get to know a person and their unique situation, they can create a better, individualized plan for care.
How hospice care helps
Hospice care helps ease a person's transition from actively treating the cancer to focusing on staying as comfortable as possible and preparing for their death.
When no treatment options remain, it can be a great relief for a person to know that professional hospice workers will be there to make their remaining time more comfortable.
Hospice care is also a big help to family members, as they don't have to handle the responsibility of end-of-life care for their loved one all alone. Knowing a loved one isn't in pain can also help make this challenging time more bearable for family and friends.
Deciding between palliative or hospice care — and deciding whether to utilize these options at all — can be difficult. Here's how to decide which is best for you or your loved one.
Questions to ask yourself
Consider these questions when determining the best care for your current situation:
Where am I on my cancer journey?
Most people choose hospice care when their doctor has indicated that they have 6 months or less to live. The timing can help you determine which approach may be best.
Am I ready to stop some treatment?
Palliative care focuses on keeping a person comfortable. They may still receive treatments to shrink tumors or limit the growth of cancer cells.
However, hospice care usually involves stopping antitumor treatments. It focuses solely on comfort and finishing your life on your own terms.
It may take time to conclude that you've reached an endpoint in your treatment and life. If you're not ready for that yet, palliative care may be the way to go.
Where do I wish to receive care?
While this isn't always the case, palliative care programs are often offered at a hospital or short-term care facility, such as an extended-care facility.
But location depends on your insurance coverage and cost considerations, availability of geographic resources, and personal preference.
Hospice inpatient facilities (free-standing facilities) exist all over the country, whereas others may have in-hospital hospice programs. Hospice can also be offered at home.
Questions to ask your doctor
There are also questions you may want to ask your doctor that can help ease the decision making process. Examples of these questions include:
Discussing these questions with a doctor who's advised others under similar circumstances can be very helpful.
End-of-life care is appropriate when a person or their family knows the end of life is nearing and time is limited. At this difficult time, there are actions a person may want to take to ensure their final wishes are known.
These are just some of the ways a person can make their wishes known and live their life most fully.
Both palliative and hospice care are important parts of caring for someone with stage 4 breast cancer. These types of care have nothing to do with giving up and everything to do with helping people feel more comfortable while living the best life possible.
The palliative or hospice care process will usually begin with a referral from your oncologist. It may also come from a caseworker or social worker in your oncologist's office.
These referrals are often needed for insurance purposes. Each individual palliative or hospital care organization will likely have its own requirements regarding the paperwork or information needed following this referral.
Communication in all aspects is so important when deciding on hospice or palliative care. This includes communication with your doctor, family, and loved ones so you can live out your life on your terms.
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