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Thyroid cancer is very treatable in many instance, but a thyroid cancer misdiagnosis can delay vital treatment, causing pain, suffering and potentially loss. You may be entitled to make a cancer misdiagnosis claim with assistance from Blackwater Law.
Thyroid cancer is relatively rare in the UK, occurring most frequently in those aged 30-40 and those over 60, with more cases commonly found in women than men. It is thankfully very treatable in instances where it is identified promptly, when a thyroid cancer misdiagnosis occurs however the impact can be devastating, and it may be worth pursuing a compensation claim to help you meet the additional strains you are likely to have to endure.
Making a Thyroid Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim
Any instance where the actions or failures of a medical professional have resulted in the delay, obstruction or improper application of diagnosis and / or subsequent treatment may mean you are eligible to make a claim for thyroid cancer misdiagnosis. Should you subsequently do so, the impact of your misdiagnosis will be gauged and will have a significant impact on the proceedings and outcome of your medical negligence compensation claim.
Some of the more common instances where it may be appropriate to claim for thyroid cancer misdiagnosis include the following instances of negligence:
- Cases in which you present to your GP with symptoms that could indicate thyroid cancer, but he or she fails to perform an examination or to subsequently refer you to a specialist
- Where your GP fails to identify a cancerous tumour following a medical examination and / or discussion of your symptoms
- Whereupon discovery of thyroid cancer, your doctor(s) fail to adequately explain to you the various treatment paths and associated risks that are available to you
- Where proper care is not exercised during the course of surgery to address thyroid cancer, causing damage to surrounding organs or tissues and / or elevating the risks of infection post-surgery
- In instances where a thyroid cancer misdiagnosis leads you to think you have the disease when in fact you do not, leading to significant mental distress and potentially unnecessary treatment – which may carry risks of side effects with it
- Where abnormal test results are not adequately investigated, recorded or reported
This does represent a comprehensive list of all potential scenarios where you may be able to claim compensation for thyroid cancer misdiagnosis. If you feel the care you have received in the build-up to or post-diagnosis has fallen below an acceptable standard, it’s important to speak to a legal expert as soon as possible to determine if you have a case.
Blackwater Law medical negligence solicitors are recognised by the Legal 500 as providing some of the very best legal advice and support in the South East, and can offer you the chance to secure the compensation you deserve in a hassle-free and completely effective manner. Our experts have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in dealing with thyroid cancer misdiagnosis compensation claims, and you can be sure that with our help you will receive the maximum compensation sum available according to your circumstances.
No win, no fee claims for thyroid cancer misdiagnosis
At Blackwater Law we understand that a thyroid cancer misdiagnosis can be devastating for you and your family, and can seriously impact your ability to raise funds to put towards a compensation claim. That’s why we undertake all of our client’s medical negligence claims – including those for thyroid cancer – on a no win, no fee basis.
This way if we don’t win your case you’ll never have to pay us a penny, and any fee we do subsequently charge will always comply with strict government capping regulations. The amount of compensation you might potentially receive however is subject to no upper limit; meaning you get a fair deal every time and at no risk to your own personal finances.
Avoiding Misdiagnosis of Thyroid Cancer
Doctors are well-informed as to the risks of thyroid cancer, and should always adopt sensible steps to avoid a misdiagnosis and get patients the treatment they need in a timely manner.
If you present to your GP with symptoms which might be associated with thyroid cancer, including unexplained hoarseness of your voice or lumps in your throat, he or she should immediately examine your throat. They should enquire as to the general state of your health and may perform a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels. Where suspicion remains post-examination you should be sent to see a hospital-based specialist for further testing.
Specialists will then examine your thyroid hormone balance using a thyroid function test. They should also conduct a fine-needle aspiration cytology to remove tissues from the affected areas of your throat and examine them under a microscope for signs of thyroid cancer (in rare instances a surgical biopsy may be required instead, and should be performed under general anaesthetic. Ultrasound, CT or MRI scans may also be performed to help determine exactly which form of thyroid cancer you may have, and to assess the wellbeing of surrounding organs to determine if it has spread.
The utmost precision and care are vital at each stage of the process, as one small missed detail could lead to a thyroid cancer misdiagnosis and could mean the condition becomes untreatable before it is noticed.
Types of Thyroid Cancer
There are currently four primary forms of thyroid cancer recognised by medical science:
- Papillary Carcinoma: The most common form of thyroid cancer, representing around 80% of cases and particularly prominent in women under 40
- Follicular Carcinoma: Constitutes around 10% of cases and is normally observed in middle aged women
- Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A rarer form of cancer that constitutes less than 10% of cases but has been known to run in families
- Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: Accounting for around 2% of cases this is the most serious form of thyroid cancer, primarily affecting those aged over 60
You may occasionally see papillary and follicular carcinomas referred to as differentiated thyroid cancers. They are generally considered to be the easiest forms of the disease to treat.
Causes of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancers form when DNA in the cells of throat mutates, causing them to grow in an abnormal manner and at an uncontrollable rate, creating a lump and eventually a tumour. There is currently no definitive way of determining what will cause thyroid cancer to develop, but there are a number of factors that can elevate your risk:
- Where you suffer from a pre-existing thyroid condition such as inflamed thyroid (thyroiditis) or goitre
- Where you suffer from a pre-existing bowel condition known as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Where a close relative has previously been diagnosed with thyroid cancer
- Instances where you experienced radiation doses as a child – including during the course of treatment courses like radiotherapy
- Being overweight or obese
- If you suffer from acromegaly; where your body releases too much growth hormone
Treatment of Thyroid Cancer
Your treatment program should be devised by a team of multidisciplinary specialists and will depend on the state of your general health, the type of thyroid cancer you have and how advanced it has become.
Generally speaking, treatment consists of four primary methods:
- Surgery to remove all or part of your cancerous thyroid and similarly any cancerous tissues.
- Radioactive Iodine Treatment: This is orally administered radioactive medicine that travels through your body to the site of the cancer and acts to destroy it.
- External Radiotherapy: Where beams of radiation are sent from an external source into your body, targeting the thyroid cancer and seeking to destroy it.
- Chemotherapy and targeted therapies may also be used to tackle the disease, involving the use of potent medications known to inhibit cancer growth and spreading, but which carry with them potentially serious side effects.
An early diagnosis improves the prospects of successful treatment and decreases the likelihood that you will have to endure more aggressive and potentially harmful treatment paths such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Specialists in Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims
Our medical negligence solicitors can offer vast experience and expertise in dealing with many forms of cancer misdiagnosis, and will always fight to secure the maximum available compensation according to each case’s individual merits. We’ve handled cases relating to bowel cancers, skin cancer, thyroid cancers and many more forms of the disease – so if you’re not satisfied with the diagnostic process you’ve encountered we’d like to hear from you.
Whether you’re confident you have a case or you’d just like to know more we’re happy to discuss your circumstances – but hurry; as time restrictions may apply to your case.
Blackwater Law client testimonial
It seemed like we were the only case that Jason was working on, and that can’t be true, but that’s how he made us feel.
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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