Mistakes made when treating or diagnosing cervical cancer can be devastating. If you’ve suffered as a result of cervical cancer misdiagnosis or negligent treatment, Slater and Gordon’s specialist legal experts can help get the compensation you deserve.
There are over 3,000 cases of cervical cancer every year in the UK, making it the 12th most common cancer in the country. While regular screening has been introduced to help prevent cervical cancer from developing, mistakes do still occur, and the effects can be disastrous.
Being diagnosed with cervical cancer can be an overwhelming and emotional time, and you can be left wondering what its impact on your life and future may be. No one should then have to deal with the consequences of mistakes made by the medical professionals they entrusted with their care.
If you have suffered as a result of cervical cancer misdiagnosis, delays in diagnosis or treatment, or incorrect treatments, you may be entitled to make a cervical cancer claim. No amount of compensation can change what has happened to you, or change your diagnosis, but it can help to support you and your family throughout your recovery.
Our medical negligence solicitors are experts in cervical cancer claims and are here to help you when you need it most.
We are fortunate in the UK that women are offered regular screening (smear tests) and children receive the HPV vaccine at a young age, to help prevent cases of cervical cancer from occurring (almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV).
However, this doesn’t stop cervical cancer from developing in every case, and it’s crucial that when the cancer does develop, a diagnosis is made quickly and the correct treatment provided to ensure the best possible chance at recovery.
If your doctor suspects you may have cervical cancer, you should be sent for further tests as soon as possible. This will usually involve taking a closer look at your cervix, using a procedure called a colposcopy. Your doctor or nurse may also wish to take a biopsy of the cells for more testing.
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?
Many of the symptoms of cervical cancer are relatively common issues for women to experience, which can make it difficult to immediately identify them as symptoms of cervical cancer. It can be easy to mistake them for other conditions, such as fibroids or endometriosis, so it’s important to be aware of any changes to how you experience symptoms and speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Symptoms include:
Vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you, such as bleeding during and after sex, between periods, or after the menopause
Heavier than normal periods
Changes to vaginal discharge
Pain during sex
Pain in the lower back, hips or lower stomach
What are the risks of a delay in diagnosis or cervical cancer misdiagnosis?
In the UK, we’re very fortunate to have the NHS, and the vast majority of patients suffering from cervical cancer receive a high standard of care. However, mistakes do happen, and the consequences can be severe.
The most common mistakes in diagnosing or treating cervical cancer include:
Failure to recognise the symptoms of cervical cancer
Failure to carry out adequate examinations or tests
Failure to advise a patient to return if their symptoms persist or worsen
Misinterpretation of smear tests or other examinations
Mistakes made during a hysterectomy operation
Mistakes during radiation treatment, such as a failure to preserve the eggs
Mistakes during chemotherapy
Such mistakes or delays can have devastating consequences, from causing unnecessary pain and suffering to resulting in a life-threatening prognosis. If you believe negligent delays caused your cancer to get worse, please contact one of our experts for advice on making a No Win No Fee compensation claim.
I cannot recommend Slater and Gordon enough, throughout the entire period of the case, all the staff have been both very professional, and supportive.
Mr Q (medical negligence client)
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim.
Ms S (medical negligence client)
I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything Slater and Gordon have done to fight this case for us. I appreciate it has involved a lot of people. Please can you also thank the expert witnesses who have provided their expertise and help.
Mr and Mrs H (medical negligence client)
We understand how difficult it can be to receive a cancer diagnosis, and no one should then have to deal with the consequences of negligent treatment and misdiagnosis. No amount of compensation can fix what has been done, but making a claim can help to support you and your family through your recovery and treatment.
To make a cervical cancer claim, you need to be able to prove that there has been a breach in the duty of care owed to you by the medical professionals responsible for your care, and that this breach caused a negative impact on your treatment and prognosis.
If you think that a medical professional failed to fulfil their responsibilities, and their failure caused you unnecessary harm, contact us now and we'll be able to advise you on how we can gather evidence for your medical negligence claim.
Why should I choose Slater and Gordon?
Our misdiagnosed cancer team are one of the best in the country and are highly ranked in independent legal guides such as Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.
The team are highly experienced in dealing with misdiagnosed cancer claims can provide you with the best possible service, not only ensuring that you get the best outcome to your case, but that you get the treatment and additional support you need to assist with your recovery. We’re committed to providing the best support from day one, which is way we also offer home and hospital visits to allow us to provide immediate representation and rehabilitation support; allowing you to focus on recovery while we handle your claim.
How long do I have to start a cervical cancer claim?
As a general rule, you have three years from the date you first became aware that the treatment you received was negligent to make a claim. However, there are exceptions to this rule, so it is strongly advised that you speak to a specialist medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible, as they will be able to advise you of any relevant deadlines in your case.
Can I claim cervical cancer compensation on behalf of someone else?
It is possible to claim compensation for cervical cancer compensation on behalf of a loved one, though this is only the case in a handful of circumstances. Generally speaking, it is only possible if the person diagnosed with the condition is considered legally unable to submit a claim for themselves.
For instance, a claim can be made on behalf of a child under the age of 18, or on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to submit a claim by themselves.
How much compensation could I receive from a cervical cancer claim?
It can be difficult to determine how much your claim could be worth without first discussing the details of your case. Generally speaking, the amount of compensation will be dependent upon how significant the delays in your treatment were, the level of impact any incorrect treatment has had, or how severely your prognosis has been altered by the negligent treatment you received.
To discuss your personal circumstances in more detail, you can reach out to a member of our team for a confidential, no-obligation conversation today either online or by calling 0330 041 5869.
Can I make a no win no fee cervical cancer claim?
Yes. The vast majority of our medical negligence cases are funded by way of a conditional agreement, also known as No Win No Fee. It means that there is no cost to you to pursue the claim and, in the event that you lose the case, there are no fees for you to pay, so there is never any financial risk.
If you or a family member have been seriously impacted by medical negligence, and you feel that you're not getting the specialist legal advice you need from your current solicitor, we'll be happy to discuss switching your case to Slater and Gordon. Simply call our experts on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.
I cannot recommend Slater and Gordon enough, throughout the entire period of the case, all the staff have been both very professional, and supportive. Mr Q (medical negligence client)
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim. Ms S (medical negligence client)
I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything Slater and Gordon have done to fight this case for us. I appreciate it has involved a lot of people. Please can you also thank the expert witnesses who have provided their expertise and help. Mr and Mrs H (medical negligence client)