Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

Cancer misdiagnosis and late cancer diagnosis can be devastating for the victim and their family. Unfortunately, some people are not diagnosed as early as they could be and this can be down to a number of factors. They may have seen the doctor about a symptom that is related to the cancer that is so common that the doctor dismisses it and fails to take the appropriate tests.

Statistics show that one in three people in the UK will get cancer during their life, making it one of the most prolific diseases of our time. Doctors have to be highly aware of the possibility of cancer when making diagnoses and need to make correct decisions every time.

If they were to fail to make a correct cancer diagnosis and treatment was delayed, this usually increases the patient's chance of dying from the disease. On the other hand, if they make a diagnosis of cancer when there is none, this can cause the person a lot of unnecessary emotional trauma and shock and may even lead to them receiving the incorrect treatment. Either of these situations may be viewed as medical negligence.

If misdiagnosis or late diagnosis of cancer has significantly affected your life, contact the team of experienced lawyers at YouClaim. Our medical negligence solicitors are recognized as being among the very best in the UK; all are governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Call us free on 0800 10 757 95 or complete an online claim form.

The importance of an early diagnosis

With many types of cancer, an early diagnosis is crucial. Lung cancer, ovarian cancer and stomach cancer are three kinds that have a much lower mortality rate following a prompt diagnosis. Those diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the earliest stage have a 92.5% five-year survival chance but this is reduced to 11.6% for those with the most advanced form.

The reason why it is so important for doctors to give an accurate, early diagnosis is that the cancer can become more advanced if it is not treated. The term "more advanced" refers to the tumour becoming larger and the cancer cells possibly spreading to other parts of the body. Generally speaking, the further advanced a cancer is judged to be, the lower the chance of a successful outcome.

A doctor who misses an early cancer diagnosis when presented with a person exhibiting typical signs of cancer may be considered to have committed medical negligence.

How can a cancer diagnosis be missed?

A number of factors can lead to a misdiagnosis or late diagnosis of cancer. This scenario is often seen in relation to smokers with lung cancer. They may go to their doctor complaining of a bad cough but are often told that it is just due to smoking and further tests are not undertaken, despite the fact that a cough is one of the signs of lung cancer.

Doctors may also miss a cancer diagnosis if the cancer involved is a rare type. For example, liver cancer accounts for less than one in a hundred diagnoses of cancer and also shares symptoms with many less serious illnesses. A diagnosis of liver cancer may well be delayed whilst other illnesses are considered to be the cause of symptoms such as abdominal pain and weight loss.

Other forms of medical negligence relating to a delayed diagnosis of cancer include lost or misinterpreted test results, a lack of monitoring for those who are at high risk of developing cancer and a failure to conduct a proper patient examination.

Making a medical negligence claim with the experts at You Claim

We understand how distressing cancer misdiagnosis claims are; our experienced personal injury solicitors can explain all you need to know without jargon and in a non-pressurised manner.

They are governed by the strict tenets of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, a branch of the Law Society, so you are guaranteed a professional service at all times. Unfortunately, the complexities of medical negligence cases prevent us from stating unequivocally that you will not be charged, but we do promise to explain fully the extent of any charges before you decide to go ahead with the claim. 

If you wish to discuss a medical negligence claim, please call our free and confidential UK helpline now on 0800 10 757 95 or you can request a more convenient time when we can call you back. Alternatively, fill in the online claim form and we will look into your compensation claim before we call you to discuss it further. Above all, at YouClaim we are here to help.