Our cancer compensation claims expertise
Our medical negligence team are
specialist cancer claim solicitors. We have
successfully concluded many cancer claims in cases where there was
an incorrect diagnosis of cancer, a filing error caused a delay in
diagnosing breast cancer and many other cancer-related
legal claims.
What is cancer?
Cancer is one of the most common illnesses in the UK and it
causes thousands of deaths every year. It is a disease caused by a
change in the body's cells. The normal cells grow in an
uncontrolled way and this causes a lump called a tumour to
form. If not treated the tumour can cause many problems,
including:
- Spreading into normal tissues nearby
- Causing pressure on other body structures
- Spreading to other parts of the body through the lymphatic
system or bloodstream
Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumours but instead it
is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow that is characterised by an
abnormal increase of blood cells, usually leukocytes (white blood
cells). Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of
diseases.
There are more than 200 different types of cancer because there
are over 200 different types of body cells.
Oncology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study,
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer. Cancer can present
all over the body in many forms. Some are insiduous and slow
growing, while others are more invasive and grow at a rapid
rate.
Almost all cancers can be detected by appropriate investigations
and screening, but the presenting symptoms vary and detection can
sometimes be very difficult. For more information on cancer please
visit the cancer research website.
What can I claim compensation for?
There are certain circumstances when a medical practitioner
should reasonably suspect and refer a patient for investigation
that should lead to diagnosis and treatment. If there is a delay in
diagnosis, this may impact on life expectancy, the treatment
options that are available
and how long treatment lasts.
Diagnosis of cancer is devastating for the patient and their
family at any time, but this news can be even more distressing if
there has been a delay in discovery of their illness.
Quite often no-one is to blame for an apparent delay in
diagnosis of cancer. However, sometimes things do go wrong;
for example, delays can be caused by a GP failing to refer a
patient to hospital for further investigation. Hospitals can also
be at fault by failing to follow up test results or incorrectly
reporting x-rays. For some people, late diagnosis of cancer
can mean that their prospects of recovery are diminished or the
treatment they need is more extensive than if their condition had
been recognised sooner.
We have considerable experience in dealing with medical negligence claims arising from
delay in diagnosis of cancer including:
- Bone cancer
- Brain tumour
- Bowel / colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Oral / mouth cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Spinal tumour
Contact us
For further information or if you believe you have a
cancer misdiagnosis legal claim, please contact
our medical negligence team on
freephone 0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.
All enquiries are completely free of charge and we will
investigate all funding options for you including
legal aid and no win, no fee.