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If you or a family member have had pancreatic cancer misdiagnosed, you may be entitled to medical negligence compensation for the pain, suffering and loss caused by the misdiagnosis.
When patients fall victim to pancreatic cancer misdiagnoses it has a devastating impact on their life and their family, as without this important organ the body is unable to effectively regulate the release of insulin – which keeps blood sugar levels in check – and to properly break down food and drink. If this has happened to you, you may be able to make a claim for pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis.
Can I Make A Claim for Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis?
It is a widely accepted medical consensus that the earlier any form of cancer is treated the greater prospect there is for the patient of a successful outcome. With that in mind, any instance where the actions or failures of a medical professional have contributed to a delayed or misdiagnosis of pancreatic cancer and therefore adversely affected your chances of successful treatment may qualify you to make a compensation claim. These instances can include the likes of the following:
- Where health tests (whether general or specifically tailored towards the detection of cancer) are improperly read, recorded or reported by medical professionals
- Where symptoms of ill-health are misdiagnosed as another condition
- Where patients present to their GP with symptoms commonly associated with pancreatic cancer, but are not subsequently referred to a specialist for further investigation
- Where abnormal or suspicious findings in any form of medical examination are ignored or not sufficiently investigated
Whilst these situations may denote some of the more common instances where patients are entitled to claim compensation for pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, the list is by no means exhaustive, and if you feel your situation may also qualify it’s important you seek expert legal advice as soon as possible.
Blackwater Law’s medical negligence solicitors are recognised by the Legal 500 as some of the very best available in the South East, and can offer a wealth of experience and expert knowledge in the field of pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claims. If you think the actions of medical professionals have fallen below an acceptable standard of care during the course of your treatment for pancreatic cancer, call today and we can determine quickly and accurately whether or not you have a case for compensation – but hurry; as time restrictions may apply.
No win, no fee compensation for pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis
At Blackwater Law we understand the incredible stress a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis and the subsequent suffering can place on your family, and on your finances. This is why we undertake all medical negligence claims, including those for all forms of cancer misdiagnosis on a no win, no fee basis.
If we don’t win your case you will never pay us a penny; what’s more, our fees always comply with strict government-mandated caps, whilst there is no limit on the amount of compensation you might potentially receive as a result of your claim for pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis.
The Impact of Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis of pancreatic cancer can lead to the onset and worsening of its various symptoms. In the early stage of the disease these are known to include:
- Sustained pain in the stomach and / or in the back
- Unexplained weight loss
- The onset of jaundice
As the cancer worsens, additional symptoms such as the following can begin to emerge and worsen:
- The onset of diabetes
- Sustained itching in multiple areas of the body
- Unexplained vomiting
- Changes in your bowel movement patterns
- Onset of fever or prolonged shivering
- Indigestion
- Unexplained blood clots
Again, the aforementioned afflictions do not represent a comprehensive list of all potential scenarios. Any form of suffering you are forced to endure as a result of a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis will affect any prospective compensation claim you subsequently launch.
Who is Most at Risk of Pancreatic Cancer?
There is no definitive way of determining who will and will not develop pancreatic cancer, but there are certain demographics amongst the general population who are at greater risk.
- Those aged 50-80 years old
- Those who use cigarettes, cigars or chew tobacco
- Those who consistently consume an unhealthy diet
- Those who are significantly overweight
- Patients with a history of associated medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, stomach ulcers and Helicobacter pylori infection (a form of stomach infection)
- Around 10% of victims can also trace their diagnosis to an inheritance of certain genes associated with an elevated risk of the condition
Avoiding Misdiagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
GPs are well versed in the risks associated with all forms of cancer and should always be on the lookout for symptoms. Their examinations and professional judgement should help patients avoid misdiagnoses of pancreatic cancer.
When you present to your doctor with symptoms that might be associated with pancreatic cancer, he or she should perform a thorough examination of your stomach and abdomen, checking for a lump and finding out if your liver is enlarged.
If suspicion persists, your GP may also examine your eyes for any indication of jaundice, and request a urine or blood sample be taken for further testing. If after these steps your doctor has reason to believe you may be suffering from pancreatic cancer, you should be referred to a specialist.
A hospital-based specialist will then perform a number of tests, which can include ultrasound scans, computerised tomography (CT) scans or positron emission tomography (PET) scans, (these use small doses of radiation as tracers to mark out abnormalities and potential cancers in subsequent imaging processes).
Further testing can involve endoluminal ultrasonography (EUS) endoscopies; a form of endoscopy aimed at obtaining close-up ultrasound pictures of the pancreas. You may also be subject to an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which works in much the same way as a PET scan, but with a special dye used in place of radioactive tracers to highlight potential cancers in X-rays.
Surgeons may also perform a laparoscopy; where a thin, flexible microscope is inserted into your body to examine abnormalities, or a biopsy may be performed on any suspicious tissues from a suspected cancer.
At each and every stage, medical professionals should proceed with the utmost care and attention, as any missed detail – no matter how small – could contribute to a misdiagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Treating Pancreatic Cancer
Treating pancreatic cancer can often prove tricky as the disease is difficult to identify until the tumour has grown to a significant size. Exactly which treatment path is utilised will be discerned on the basis of your age, health, preferences and just how advanced your cancer is.
The primary aim of any treatment program will be to remove the tumour from your body as soon as possible, along with any additional cancerous cells. Where this is not a possibility, the focus will shift to limiting its growth and mitigating the damage it can do to your body.
Treatment usually consists of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In some cases one of these may be sufficient to beat your pancreatic cancer; in others multiple approaches may be required.
Recovering from Pancreatic Cancer
Following surgery to remove pancreatic cancer it is normal to experience significant pain, for which medical staff should provide pain relief medication. Any surgery performed on your digestive system will temporarily render it inactive, meaning you will not be able to resume eating or drinking immediately.
You may be referred to a dietitian who will advise you on the process of gradually beginning to sip drinks, before moving on to more significant sustenance.
The recovery process normally involves around 6 months of chemotherapy post-surgery. Whilst this drastically improves your chances of a complete recovery it comes with its own unpleasant side effects including lethargy, sickness and hair loss.
Support should be offered by medical professionals at each and every stage of the process to ease any suffering you must endure.
Specialists in cancer misdiagnosis claims
Blackwater Law offers expert advice and support to patients who have suffered all manner of cancer misdiagnosis injustices. We also represent clients whose prognoses for lung cancer, bowel cancer and breast cancer have been negatively impacted by medical staff failures, with many more forms of the disease covered too. We are always willing to listen to prospective clients, so if you feel unsure about making a claim in any of these fields, please – do not hesitate to get in touch.
Blackwater Law client testimonial
Jason and the barrister together managed to get us the best possible outcome in my opinion. Our future’s settled, there’s peace of mind for our children.
Mr Shaw, as featured in video above.
Blackwater Law medical negligence solicitors acted for Mr L in a medical negligence claim in the High Court after he was misdiagnosed. The misdiagnosis meant he went on to suffer a serious stroke-causing life-limiting disability.
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