Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers to affect women in the UK. In 2015-2017 there were 55,176 new cases and 11,399 deaths from the disease.* Despite the high number of cases, breast cancer has a 76% survival rate if detected early.

Sadly, there are still many cases where medical professionals have failed to recognise and diagnose breast cancer early on, in some cases resulting in cancer spreading to other parts of the body and even terminal illness.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to late or misdiagnosed breast cancer speak to our medical negligence solicitors today.

We offer our clients:

• No Win No Fee agreements
• A free, initial, no-obligation assessment
• Expert medical negligence legal advice
• Maximum compensation

We will handle your claim with empathy and care. Contact us today on 0344 854 7000 or submit your enquiry below and we will call you back.

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What are the most common reasons behind breast cancer misdiagnosis?

A breast cancer diagnosis may have been missed or incorrectly diagnosed due to a number of different reasons including:

• Failure to be referred to a specialist.
• Failure to perform a biopsy.
• Failure to investigate symptoms.
• Symptoms misdiagnosed as something else.
• Test results interpreted incorrectly.

What are the main symptoms of breast cancer?

The symptoms of breast cancer can manifest in the form of:

• Skin changes in the breast including dimpling, puckering, a rash or reddening of the skin.
• A new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit.
• Fluid from the nipple – when a women is not pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Changes in the position of the nipple i.e. becoming inverted.
• A change in size, shape or feel of the breast.

What can the consequences of misdiagnosed breast cancer be?

A late or incorrect breast cancer diagnosis can lead to:

• Cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
• Terminal illness.
• The need for more invasive treatment.
• Unnecessary removal of breast tissue.
• Unnecessary removal of lymph nodes from the armpit.
• Increased stress and anxiety.

If during surgery a doctor fails to remove all of the cancerous tissue this may lead to you becoming more ill. You may also be able be able to make a claim for surgical negligence.

How much will my claim be worth?

It is not possible to say exactly how much your breast cancer misdiagnosis claim will be worth. Each compensation payout is calculated based on the individual circumstances of each case. Solicitors calculate claims based on general and special damages.

General damages: This is the compensation paid out for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity resulting from the treatment.  Physical and psychological injuries are covered by general damages.

Special damages: This covers any current and future financial losses incurred as a result of the accident. Examples of special damages include:

• Loss of earnings through being unable to attend work, or work to the same capacity as you did pre-illness.
• Medical and rehabilitation treatment costs.
• Care costs.
• Home and vehicle adaptation costs.
• Mobility aids.

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

You need to start your breast cancer negligence claim within three years of the date that you became aware that your treatment was negligent.

What can making a claim help with?

Making a claim can help you to pay for things to help you rebuild your life. Compensation can be used to cover:

• Loss of earnings
• Rehabilitation
• Private corrective surgery
• Private care
• Medical expenses such as prescription charges.

How much will it cost me to make a claim?

Our medical negligence solicitors will assess your case and if we believe it has good prospects, we will agree to take on your case under a conditional agreement. This is more commonly known as a No Win, No Fee agreement. This means that you will only pay legal fees if your claim is successful.

This is typically up to 25% of your settlement and will be explained to you at the start of the claims process.

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* www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer