Testicular cancer misdiagnosis claims

Making a claim for testicular cancer misdiagnosis

Conventional medical wisdom now dictates that early diagnosis and a prompt start to treatment vastly improves a patient’s prospects of surviving cancer. As such, any situation wherein the actions or failures of medical professionals have obstructed or delayed a diagnosis and / or the treatment process could entitle you to testicular cancer misdiagnosis compensation. Some of the more common instances where this is the case can include the following:

• Where you present to your GP with symptoms that could indicate a testicular cancer risk, but he or she does not take the time to medically examine you or your symptoms
• Where after a medical examination by your GP concerns still linger as to the likelihood of testicular cancer, but you are not subsequently referred to a specialist for further examination
• Where abnormal test results are not identified or investigated further
• Where the results of testing for testicular cancer are improperly recorded, reported or interpreted
• Where testicular cancer is misdiagnosed as another condition altogether

This is not intended as an exhaustive list of all potential scenarios where you may be able to claim compensation for testicular cancer misdiagnosis. If you feel the care you have been provided through the diagnostic process and subsequent treatment has fallen below an acceptable standard it’s important that you seek expert legal advice as soon as possible to discern whether or not you could make a claim.

Blackwater Law medical negligence solicitors are recognised by the Legal 500 as one of the South East’s leading solicitors in helping clients recover damages when they are provided with substandard care. Our team can offer a wealth of experience and knowledge in dealing with claims for testicular cancer misdiagnosis, so even if you are not sure whether you qualify we’d like to hear from you. Time restrictions may apply to your case however, so it’s important to get in contact as soon as possible.

Types of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer can manifest in a variety of different ways, with classification occurring on the basis of which type of cell the cancer is originally identified in.

Representing around 95% of all testicular cancer diagnoses, Germ Cell Testicular cancer originates in cells that the body uses to create sperm. Within this type of testicular cancer there are also two subdivisions:

• Seminomas: Increasingly common and applicable to around 50% of cases
• Non-seminomas: Applicable to the majority of remaining forms of testicular cancer including teratomas, embryonal carcinomas, choriocarcinomas and yolk sac tumours

Other less common types of testicular cancer are known to include:

• Leydig Cell Tumours:  Applicable to around 1-3% of cases
• Sertoli Cell Tumours: Applicable to around 1% of cases
• Lymphoma: Applicable to around 4% of cases

Who is Most at Risk of Testicular Cancer?

There is no definitive way to tell exactly who will or will not develop testicular cancer, but there are certain groups of men who are at greater risk than others:

• Men who have undescended testicles and who do not have this corrected (either naturally or through an orchidopexy) during early childhood are approximately 3 times as likely to contract testicular cancer later in life
• Those with a family history or close relative with testicular cancer may have an elevated risk of contracting the condition, as certain genes have been shown to play a part in its development
• Men who have previously had testicular cancer in one testicle are 4-12 times as likely to develop it in the other testicle too

Treating Testicular Cancer

The way in which your testicular cancer is treated can depend on a number of factors, including exactly which kind of cancer you have, your age, preferences and the state of your general health.

The primary option for addressing all forms of testicular cancer is to surgically remove the affected testicle and any cancerous cells with it. This operation is known as an orchidectomy, and whilst unsightly / uncomfortable it should not affect your sex life or your ability to father children.

Chemotherapy is an aggressive treatment that utilises powerful medicines to attack, inhibit and destroy cancerous cells. It is also commonly used as a means of preventing the return of cancer after your tumour is removed. Chemotherapy treatments have been known to attack healthy cells as well, and are generally quite unpredictable in terms of their side effects. Some of the most are known to include vomiting, hair loss, nausea and loss of appetite, with kidney damage, low blood count and breathlessness also observed in many patients.

Some forms of cancer may require a course of radiotherapy treatment post-surgery to ensure the total elimination of cancerous cells. It may also be applicable in stances of advanced-stage cancer where your body is unable to tolerate the complex medications involved in chemotherapy. Side effects of radiotherapy are known to include soreness / redness of the skin, lethargy, diarrhoea or nausea.

Supplementary treatments may later be required to correct some of the side effects associated with some treatment paths, or to address cancerous cells spreading to other areas of the body. These can include lymph node and lung surgery where advanced-stage testicular cancer has spread to the lungs, testosterone replacement therapy where your remaining testicle is unable to provide the necessary levels of testosterone or sperm banking in instances where your fertility may be at risk.

A testicular cancer misdiagnosis can mean you require a lot more treatment, or a form of treatment you might not otherwise have required which brings with it additional suffering in the form of its side effects. This will be taken into account during the course of any testicular cancer misdiagnosis claim you do decide to make, and could affect the amount you are likely to receive.

Specialists in Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

The legal experts here at Blackwater Law specialise in dealing with claims where patients have been let down by medical staff as regards the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in all its forms. We handle claims relating to lung cancer, bowel cancer, testicular cancer and more, so if you have been the victim of substandard care we’d like to help you today.