As with any type of cancer, diagnosing oral (mouth) cancer early and starting treatment promptly is crucial to successfully overcoming the illness. If you or a loved one has suffered due to misdiagnosis or delays in treatment, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
In 2021, almost 9,000 people were diagnosed with oral (mouth) cancer in the UK. It can affect any part of your mouth (such as your gums, tongue, cheeks or lips) and can sometimes be difficult to spot as symptoms aren’t always immediately visible.
As with all types of cancer, prompt diagnosis and early treatment can be crucial to successfully treating the condition. Yet medical mistakes can occur and can cause oral cancer to be misdiagnosed or to go undiagnosed for too long. That can have serious ramifications for patients and can leave them suffering from unnecessary and avoidable harm. When this happens, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Claiming compensation can’t change your diagnosis or undo the emotional trauma you and your loved ones have experienced, but it can provide support throughout your recovery. At Slater and Gordon, our medical negligence team are experts in handling oral cancer misdiagnosis claims and are on hand to provide advice and guidance when you need it most.
What are the symptoms of oral cancer and how is it diagnosed?
It can sometimes be difficult to spot the first symptoms of oral cancer, as they are not often easily visible. It could be that your dentist spots the warning signs first, or the presence of a particular symptom feels different than normal.
For example, many people experience ulcers on the inside of their cheek or lip. More often than not, it isn’t anything worry about, however if the symptom persists, you should speak to a doctor. Other symptoms include:
A patch of red or white inside your mouth
The presence of a lump
Unexplained pain inside your mouth
Difficulty swallowing or speaking, or speaking with a hoarse voice
An unexpected and unintended loss of weight
A lump in your neck or throat
If your doctor or dentist believes you may have mouth cancer after an initial examination, they should refer you to a specialist for further tests. This could involve a biopsy (collecting a small sample of cells) of the lump or area affected, an X-ray, an ultrasounds, CT scan or MRI scan.
What constitutes oral cancer misdiagnosis?
In the majority, medical professionals including doctors and dentists provide patients with a high standard of care, and conditions such as oral cancer are caught and treated in good time. However, there are occasions when mistakes happen, which cause delays that can be life-threatening. The most common causes of delays are:
A failure to recognise the symptoms of oral cancer, potentially leading to misdiagnosing the cancer as something less serious (such as toothache or canker sores)
Failing to carry out the correct examinations or tests
Incorrectly interpreting the results of the test and missing opportunities to treat the cancer early
Failing to refer a patient to a specialist for further examinations
How do I make a claim for misdiagnosed oral cancer?
Learning that your cancer has spread or been allowed to worsen due to mistakes made by the very medical professionals you trusted with your care can be incredibly traumatic. We understand that in such circumstances, making a claim for compensation can be the last thing on your mind, and thinking about going through the legal process can be daunting.
Our expert medical negligence solicitors are here to ensure your claim is as stress-free and efficient as possible. We’ll start by sitting down to discuss with you the full details of your case, and let you know immediately if we think you have a claim.
If so, the next step will be to explain the process clearly. We can provide support in collecting all the necessary evidence and information to submit your claim and work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients, allowing you to focus on your treatment and recovery.
When you are ready to start your oral cancer misdiagnosis claim, speak to a member of our team on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online and we’ll get in touch at a time that suits you.
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How do I prove misdiagnosed oral cancer?
To pursue a misdiagnosed oral cancer claim successfully, we will need to be able to prove that the care you received was substandard, and that as a result of this, you have suffered avoidable harm.
Collecting the evidence to support this can be difficult, but our expert medical negligence solicitors have many years’ experience in handling cancer misdiagnosis claims and will be able to help you gather the details required. This should include information such as:
Medical records
An independent medical review that details the impact negligence has had on your condition
Any relevant witness statements (these could be from people who attended your appointments with you, for example)
Records of any financial losses suffered as a result of your condition
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.
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 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)
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)
How long do I have to start a misdiagnosed oral 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.
How much compensation could I receive misdiagnosed oral cancer?
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 oral cancer misdiagnosis 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.
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 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)
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)