Medical negligence associated with lung cancer

Along with breast cancer, lung cancer is one of the most fatal diseases in the UK. Also, just like breast cancer, lung cancer is an illness commonly associated with compensation claims for medical negligence.

Lung cancer occurs when the cells in the lungs start to grow and divide erratically, causing a tumour to grow which can either stay localised or spread to other parts of the body.

The risk of developing lung cancer is increased by 10 times or more if you are a smoker and the risk increases with the amount of cigarettes that you smoke. However, lung cancer may also result from exposure to other dangerous toxins such as asbestos.

Lung cancer is characterised by a severe cough, coughing up blood, extreme breathlessness, weight loss, excessive fatigue and persistent chest pain.

On diagnosis of lung cancer
Methods of lung cancer diagnosis include:

• X-ray: used to detect the presence of a tumour in the chest area.

• Bronchoscopy: a thin fibre-optic instrument is passed through the mouth or nose to test for tumours in the main air passages located in the centre of the chest.

• Needle biopsy: used to collect small samples of tissue and is especially useful for detecting cancer nearer to the ribs.

• MRI scan: makes magnetic images of areas inside the body and shows up any abnormalities.

• CT scan: provides more detailed insight into how much the cancer may have spread around the body.

• Radionuclide scanning: a scanner is used to show whether the cancer has spread to other organs by measuring and recording level of radioactivity and, in so doing, revealing any abnormalities.

• Mediastinoscopy: an instrument is inserted into the neck and is used to establish whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest.

There are three main types of lung cancer: small cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The exact type of lung cancer can be determined when examined under a microscope.

Lung cancer and medical negligence
In essence, the most common instances of medical negligence associated with lung cancer include:

• A failure to test when a patient exhibits indicative signs and symptoms.

• A failure to perform a biopsy when the results of a physical examination return abnormal.

• A failure to react quickly to biopsy findings.

• A failure to recommend appropriate treatment options that could either cure the patient or make them more comfortable.

• A failure to monitor patients with a family history of lung cancer.

• Misplacing or losing a patient's records.

• A failure to refer a patient to a specialist.

Early diagnosis of cancer is vital. Many cases of lung cancer are diagnosed too late for curative treatment to take effect as the cancer has already advanced and spread.

The main reason for this is that the symptoms associated with lung cancer are very similar to those of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), also known as smokers' lung. Most smokers will develop COPD but only a very small percentage will develop lung cancer so doctors may dismiss signs of lung cancer and assume that it is just smokers' lung, thereby committing an act of medical negligence.

Alternatively, if cancer of the lung is suspected a chest X-ray may be given. However, a tumour will only be visible by a regular X-ray if it is at least 1cm in diameter so smaller tumours are often overlooked. But by the time the tumour is at a visible stage it is also likely to be at a stage that is too advanced to treat.

It is also possible for doctors to misread X-rays, another act of medical negligence that could end up in the pursuit of a compensation claim. For example, a woman in the US made a successful medical negligence claim against a radiologist who failed to make a timely diagnosis. She was diagnosed as having metastatic lung cancer a few years after he gave her a chest X-ray that he read as normal.

Making a medical negligence claim through YouClaim
If you believe that you, or someone close to you, have suffered medical negligence and you would like to make a claim for compensation then we are here to help.

Our panel of personal injury solicitors are experts at dealing with medical negligence claims and are at hand to help you to recover compensation for pain, suffering, lost earnings, medical costs and ongoing medical care.

We guarantee that making a claim through YouClaim won't be costly to you in any way. We will talk you through each stage of the claim process and provide you with free legal advice. We also promise that you won't have to pay a penny towards any costs or fees associated with your case, whether it is a success or not.

To find out more or to make a medical negligence claim today either contact us via e-chat, send us a call back request, fill in an online claim form or call 0800 10 757 95.