The consequences of lung cancer misdiagnosis can be devastating, causing unnecessary harm and putting lives at risk. If you’ve suffered as a result of negligent treatment or delays in diagnosis, our specialist legal experts can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Lung cancer is one of the most common – and the most serious – types of cancer in the UK. Over 43,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, according to the NHS, and identifying it early can be difficult as there are often no symptoms in the first stages.
As most cases of lung cancer are spotted after the condition has already developed, it is essentially that medical professionals act quickly to diagnose and treat lung cancer. Failure to act in a timely manner can have devastating consequences, and no one should have to suffer unnecessarily due to negligent or delayed care.
We understand how overwhelming a diagnosis of lung cancer can be for you and your loved ones, particularly if you believe the medical professionals responsible for your care missed opportunities to diagnose or treat your condition sooner.
Our industry-leading medical negligence solicitors are here to support you and your family if you’ve suffered as a result of lung cancer misdiagnosis, and have many years’ experience in handling successful lung cancer claims.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
There are a number of tests which can be carried out to determine a diagnosis of lung cancer. Such tests include:
A physical examination to detect swelling in the lymph nodes or an abnormal sound in your lungs
A chest x-ray
A CT scan or PET-CT scan
A bronchoscopy
A biopsy
If tests confirm that you do have lung cancer, you may be asked to undergo further tests to find out what stage the cancer is at and whether it has spread.
You may also be asked about your work history to determine whether or not you have worked with asbestos or other harmful chemicals which may have caused your lung cancer.
What are the risks of a delay in diagnosis or lung cancer misdiagnosis?
When mistakes are made in treating or diagnosing lung cancer, the effects can be catastrophic. If a medical professional fails to diagnose or treat you correctly, it can cause significant delays and allow the cancer to grow or spread. Such mistakes include:
Failing to recognise symptoms such as a persistent cough, coughing blood, breathlessness, loss of appetite and weight loss
Mistakes in interpreting x-rays, scans or other tests
Mistakes when taking a patient's medical history
Mistakes in not carrying out the correct investigations
If you believe your lung cancer was made worse as a result of mistakes that were made by medical professionals, contact one of our lung cancer solicitors for expert advice.
What can lung cancer be commonly misdiagnosed as?
Lung cancer can often be misdiagnosed, particularly as it is difficult to identify in its early stages, and which it does display symptoms, they can be attributed to a number of other illnesses.
One of the most common misdiagnoses of lung cancer is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), which is sometimes referred to as smokers’ lung. This is because the two conditions share very similar symptoms, and many smokers will develop COPD at some point in their lives. However, in comparison, only a small percentage of these will develop lung cancer.
However, lung cancer can be misdiagnosed as a number of other conditions or illnesses, including (but not limited to):
Pneumonia
Asthma
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Lung abscesses
Lung nodules
Lymphoma
Tuberculosis
Misdiagnosis can cause serious harm, not in the least because it delays treatment. An incorrect diagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment, which can cause further harm. If you believe you’ve received an incorrect diagnosis, or have suffered unnecessary harm due to delays or misdiagnosis, speak to a member of our team today.
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)
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)
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 lung 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.
Frequently asked questions about lung cancer claims
How long do I have to start a lung 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 lung cancer compensation on behalf of someone else?
It is possible to claim compensation for lung 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 could I receive from a lung cancer compensation 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 lung 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 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)
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)