Mistakes made when treating or diagnosing pancreatic cancer can have devastating consequences. If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, Slater and Gordon’s specialist pancreatic cancer solicitors can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis and medical negligence
Learning that you have pancreatic cancer can be a deeply distressing time for both you and your family, and finding out that negligent treatment or delays in diagnosis have caused your condition to deteriorate can only make this worse.
Being diagnosed with any type of cancer can be some of the most vulnerable moments in a person’s life, and it is vital that you have access to the best possible care to ensure a good recovery. Mistakes made during diagnosis and treatment can hamper this and, at worse, allow the cancer to spread unchecked, which can have serious consequences.
We understand that compensation cannot fix what has been done or change your diagnosis. However, it can support you and your family throughout your recovery, providing financial support if you’re out of work, or access to further treatment. At Slater and Gordon, our medical negligence solicitors have many years’ experience in handling pancreatic cancer claims, and here to help you and your family when you need it most.
What constitutes a delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis of pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is relatively common in the UK, with over 10,000 cases diagnosed each year. It can be difficult to spot, as it’s early symptoms can be easily missed, or it may not have symptoms at all. Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include:
Jaundice, where the white of your eyes or your skin turns yellow
A loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
Feeling tired or having no energy
Abdominal pain
A high temperature, or fever
Digestive issues, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and bloating
As pancreatic cancer can be difficult to identify early on, it is crucial that the medical professional responsible for your care refers you for further tests as soon as possible to avoid allowing the cancer to develop and spread. Mistakes that can lead to misdiagnosis or negligence include:
Failure to follow up early symptoms with further testing
Interrupting the results of the test incorrectly
Misdiagnosing your cancer as a different condition
Prescribing incorrect treatment, or performing an incorrect surgical operation
What is pancreatic cancer most commonly misdiagnosed as?
Because pancreatic cancer can be so hard to spot, and any early symptoms can be quite generic, it can be easy for medical professionals to misdiagnose or fail to follow up with further tests. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be commonly misinterpreted as, among others:
Gallstones or a gallbladder related illness
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Pancreatitis
Coeliac disease
Muscular pain
Late-stage pancreatic cancer can be very dangerous, as it stops your pancreas – responsible for breaking down sugars such as insulin – from functioning properly. If a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is caught early enough, intense and harmful treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be avoided.
It is therefore essential that medical professionals follow up any suspicious symptoms and follow the correct procedures to ensure a timely diagnosis. If you believe your diagnosis was delayed or that you have received negligent treatment for pancreatic cancer, speak to a member of our team today.
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)
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)
If the medical professionals responsible for your care were negligent in their treatment of your condition – be it a delay in diagnosis, a misdiagnosis of an incorrect condition, or the use of an inappropriate or incorrect treatment – you may be entitled to make a pancreatic cancer claim.
It is worth noting that to make a successful claim, you need to be able to prove that your doctors were negligent and breached their duty of care, and that this subsequently led to avoidable harm or suffering.
If you believe you may have a pancreatic cancer claim, our medical negligence team is here to help. Simply get in touch for a no-obligation, confidential chat with one of our friendly team members to discuss your case.
What will happen during my pancreatic cancer claim?
We understand that making a pancreatic cancer claim can be daunting, particularly if you’re still recovering or receiving treatment for your condition. We’ll take it step-by-step, at a pace you are comfortable with, and explain what each stage will involve throughout the process.
Our friendly, empathetic team members are on hand to guide and support you, and will make every effort to ensure the process is as simple and as stress-free as possible. We’ll start by sitting down with you to discuss your personal circumstances and the care you received, and let you know whether we think you have a case to pursue. From there, we’ll investigate your medical records, alongside our in-house nurses and medical experts, to identify any instances of negligent treatment, and the impact that this has had. We’ll also organise independent medical examinations for you to provide an independent medical assessment and prognosis.
Early on in the process, we’ll reach out to those responsible for your treatment to establish liability, which can help us to secure interim payments to support your treatment and care. Throughout your case, our industry-leading experts will pursue your claim and aim to settle negotiations quickly, securing the compensation you deserve without the hassle. We’ll keep you informed at every step of the way, so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.
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 pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis
How long do I have to start a pancreatic cancer claim?
As a general rule, you have three years from the date you first became aware you were misdiagnosed or were given negligent treatment to start making a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claim.
There are exceptions to this rule. If you were unable to make a claim during the initial three years due to physical or psychological injury, you could be entitled to make a claim within three years from your recovery.
A child under the age of 18 can also make a claim within three years from their 18th birthday, unless a parent or guardian has already made a claim on their behalf.
It’s always strongly advised to reach out to a specialist medical negligence solicitor to discuss your personal circumstances, as they will be able to advise you of any deadlines that are relevant to you.
Can I claim pancreatic cancer compensation on behalf of someone else?
Yes, you may be able to claim pancreatic cancer compensation on behalf of the individual diagnosed, though this is usually only the case in circumstances where the individual suffering from cancer is unable to submit a claim themselves. For instance, you may be able to claim on behalf of a child under the age of 18, or for someone who lacks the mental capacity to action a claim for themselves.
For more information about claiming compensation on behalf of a loved one, visit our claims guide page here.
How much compensation could I receive from a pancreatic 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 change my solicitors to Slater and Gordon?
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)
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)
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)