Due to the sensitive and urgent nature of cancer misdiagnosis and delayed cancer diagnosis, we make sure any of these claims are allocated to a lawyer with a specialism in oncology legal actions.
A diagnosis of cancer is devastating for an individual and their loved ones. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment lead to the best outcomes and most of the time cancer patients receive a very good standard of care.
Unfortunately, mistakes can still happen and we believe anyone who suffers negligent cancer treatment deserves the right legal advice and support.
Some common types of cancer negligence include:
We have represented hundreds of people and their families who have suffered from delays in the diagnosis of their cancer, or misdiagnosis of their cancer. Below, we talk through the four most common types of cancer and the sorts of negligence that we typically see.
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According to the NHS there are more than 200 known types of cancer. However, the four most common are:
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in the UK.
The common types of mistakes are:
Your GP will normally refer you to a breast clinic if they are concerned that you may have symptoms of breast cancer. There 3 normal types of investigation for diagnosing breast cancer:
The main treatment for breast cancer is usually surgery. Other treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, treatment with hormones (hormone therapy), and targeted medicines and immunotherapy.
According to the NHS, website, more than 43,000 people are diagnoses with lung cancer in the UK each year. The major cause of lung cancer is smoking.
The common types of mistakes are:
The most common symptoms are:
Your GP may initially do a blood test to rule out chest infection.
The most common treatment options are:
Depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is, you may receive a combination of these treatments.
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men aged 50 or older in the UK.
The common types of mistakes are:
You normally get symptoms when your prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of your penis (urethra). The common symptoms are:
There are a number of tests which include:
If you do have prostate cancer, you may not need treatment.
If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, your doctor may suggest either “watchful waiting” or “active surveillance”.
The best option depends on your age and overall health. Both options involve carefully monitoring your condition.
Some cases of prostate cancer can be cured if treated in the early stages.
Treatments include:
Some cases are only diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer has spread.
If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body and cannot be cured, treatment is focused on prolonging life and relieving symptoms. All treatment options carry the risk of significant side effects, including erectile dysfunction and urinary symptoms, such as needing to use the toilet more urgently or more often.
For this reason, you may choose to delay treatment until there’s a risk the cancer might spread.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK. Bowel cancer screening can pick up bowel cancer early, which may mean it’s easier to treat.
The common types of mistakes are:
These can include:
Your GP will ask you more about your symptoms, general health, medical history, and if anyone in your family has had bowel cancer. The doctor may feel your tummy and ask to do a rectal examination. This is where they put a gloved finger inside your bottom to check for any lumps.
You may be asked for a poo sample (stool sample) for testing, or be given a home test kit called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), to collect a small sample of poo and send it to a lab. These check if you’re bleeding from your bowel, which can be a sign of bowel cancer.
You may also be asked to have a blood test.
If a GP suspects you have bowel cancer, they will refer you to a specialist for tests. The main test for bowel cancer is a colonoscopy. This is where a thin, flexible, tube with a camera is used to look inside your bowel.
The treatment usually depends upon the size of the cancer, if the cancer is in your colon or rectum, or both if it has spread to other parts of your body, if the cancer has certain genetic changes and your age and general health.
You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted medicines.
Surgery may be carried out to remove cancer from the bowel. Part or all of the bowel around the cancer may also need to be removed. You may need a colostomy or ileostomy, which may be temporary or permanent.
Cervical cancer is a cancer found anywhere in the cervix (the opening between the vagina and the womb). It is most common in women aged between 30 and 35. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by an infection from certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
Fortunately cases of cervical cancer are avoided by girls having vaccinations for HPV and by regular screening (smear tests).
The most common mistakes in diagnosing or treating cervical cancer include:
When cervical cancer is suspected you’ll usually be referred for a test to have a closer look at your cervix. This is called a colposcopy. Sometimes you’ll be offered a procedure to remove abnormal cells during the colposcopy.
The treatment you have will depend on the size and type of cervical cancer you have, where the cancer is, if it has spread and your general health
It will usually include surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It may also include treatment with targeted medicines to treat the cancer.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body. The main cause of melanoma is ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds.
Things that increase your chances of getting melanoma include your age and having pale skin, a large number of moles and a family history of skin cancer. It’s often possible to prevent skin cancer by being careful in the sun – for example, by using sunscreen and reapplying it regularly.
Small delays in diagnosing melanoma are unlikely to make much of a difference. However, significant delays can allow the Melanoma to grow and could spread to other parts of the body.
Common mistakes include not recognising the symptoms, such as a mole or lump bleeding or hurting, changing colour, growing in size or having an asymmetrical shape.
Then either failing to carry out appropriate tests or making mistakes in interpreting the test results and not providing the correct treatment in a timely manner.
A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma.
Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they’re more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun. Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals.
Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see.
If a GP suspects you have melanoma, they will refer you to a specialist (dermatologist). The specialist will check your skin and ask you about any changes you’ve noticed. They may use a magnifying device that lets them look at the skin more closely. They may also cut out the mole and a small area of surrounding skin so it can be sent to a lab and checked for cancer. This is known as an excision biopsy.
If you have been told you have melanoma skin cancer, you’ll usually need some more tests, which may include a CT scan or an MRI scan.
The results of these tests will show how deep the cancer is and how far it’s spread (called the stage). This will help your specialist decide what treatment you need.
Melanoma skin cancer can often be treated. The treatment you have will depend on where the cancer is, if it has spread and your general health
Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma. Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used.
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In general you have three years from the date of negligence or reasonable knowledge of mistreatment by a medical professional causing you harm to bring a medical negligence compensation claim. There are some exceptions to this rule; for instance where the matter involves a child in which case the child has three years from the date of their 18th birthday to bring a claim, therefore expiring on the individual’s 21st birthday.
It is important to speak to our medical negligence solicitors as early as possible to avoid any issues with limitation dates.
