Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims & Colon Cancer Negligence Compensation

Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims are vital for the victims to receive justice. If you have suffered because of Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis, you will be coming to terms with what this means to you and the consequences for your health and your prognosis.

Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, can be particularly aggressive and early diagnosis and treatment is essential to giving you the best chance of recovery. Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis, or even delayed diagnosis, can have devastating effects; if you have been misdiagnosed as a result of negligent behaviour, then you may be entitled to claim compensation.

The specialist medical negligence solicitors at Sheldon Davidson Solicitors understand the challenges that you face and are on hand to help. We have been helping victims of medical misdiagnosis for decades and we know how to support you in getting the treatment, and make a successful medical negligence claim.

Can I make a Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim?

If, during the diagnosis and treatment of your colon cancer, the correct medical procedures were not followed, you may be able to make a Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis Claim.

Misdiagnosis can occur in numerous ways from the first instance you seek medical attention. Perhaps your initial symptoms were dismissed, or attributed to another, less serious disease, or you have received incorrect treatment due to negligence.

There are many examples of colon cancer misdiagnosis that are grounds for making a claim:

• Were your initial symptoms attributed to another condition, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis?
• Did your doctor fail to examine you properly, or to refer you for further testing, even though your symptoms were consistent with colon cancer?
• Were your test results misread, or incorrectly interpreted?
• Was your surgery not performed to the necessary standard required, leaving you harmed, or with colon cancer that returned or continued to spread?
• Were you given an incorrect diagnosis of colon cancer and treated for a condition that you didn’t actually have?

If you think that the care that you have received has been substandard, and that a medical professional has failed in their duty of care to you in a way that might be negligent, then speak to us as soon as possible.

Our medical negligence experts will consider your case, assessing whether negligence has caused your misdiagnosis, and the impact of this on your prognosis and the suffering you have endured as a result.

Can I claim on behalf of a relative?

If you have been bereaved due to a misdiagnosis of colon cancer, you may be able to make a claim for compensation on behalf of your relative. There are a number of factors to consider when making a claim on behalf of someone else. Contact us today for a free initial consultation and we will guide you towards the next steps.

What am I entitled to?

If we assess your case and agree that you have grounds to make a claim for colon cancer misdiagnosis, we will get to work on your case and establish what costs to include. If your health has been damaged, or your cancer has progressed further than it would have done with a correct diagnosis or treatment, we will consider this when we negotiate the amount of compensation you can claim.

You may also have incurred losses as a result of being unable to work or needing costly medical care or treatment as a result of your misdiagnosis. It may be possible to recover these losses; your solicitor will consider the full impact of your misdiagnosis on you when they negotiate your cancer misdiagnosis claim.

Are there time limits for making a misdiagnosis claim?

In most cases, you have three years to make a claim for medical misdiagnosis.

The three-year time limitation to make a claim starts from the date that you first became aware that negligence occurred, known as the “date of knowledge”.

When dealing with colon cancer it is essential to act swiftly to ensure that you get the correct treatment as soon as possible, so we recommend that you seek expert legal advice at the earliest opportunity.

Diagnosing and treating colon cancer

The colon is part of the large intestine, and colon cancer occurs when cells in the colon divide and grow out of control. The cause of colon cancer is not known, but certain risk factors may increase the chances of developing the disease, such as age, diet and genetic predisposition.

It’s important to see your GP as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of colon cancer. These can include:

• Changes to your normal evacuation habits for longer than three weeks (such as unexplained constipation or diarrhoea)
• blood in your stools, or bleeding from the back passage
• unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal pain
• unexplained tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness.

Visiting your GP is often the first step on the diagnosis path, and they have a duty of care to take your symptoms seriously, examine you properly and ensure that you are given the appropriate tests or referrals where necessary.

If you feel that your concerns have not been adequately addressed, you are within your rights to seek a second opinion.

If, after examining you and asking you about your general health and family history, your doctor has concerns about your symptoms, there are a number of tests that can help with diagnosis, including:

• A rectal examination, to establish whether any lumps or swellings are present
• A blood test for anaemia, and to test kidney and liver function
• A colonoscopy to look at the inside of the large intestine
• A virtual colonoscopy, which is a type of CT scan which helps to build up a three-dimensional picture of your large intestine
• A sigmoidoscopy to examine the rectum and closest part of the colon
• A CT (computerised tomography) scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan or a PET scan.

If, following diagnostic tests you are given a diagnosis of colon cancer, there are a number of treatments available depending on the stage your cancer has reached, and whether it has spread from the colon to other areas of the body.

Surgery is commonly used to remove the cancer, or to control any associated symptoms, while chemotherapy may also be used to destroy cancer cells.

There are also targeted therapy drugs which may be used, particularly where the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.

The later colon cancer is diagnosed, the more aggressive the treatment options may need to be. There may be side effects that persist, even if the cancer is successfully treated, so it is crucial that misdiagnosis is avoided to give a patient the best long-term health prospect.

If you or a family member feel that at any stage the treatment or care that you were given were inadequate, and that you have been misdiagnosed as a result of negligence, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

What are the effects of a Colon Cancer Misdiagnosis?

Colon cancer, when detected early, can often be successfully treated, with up to 90% of patients surviving for over 5 years and potentially making a full recovery.

Misdiagnosis of colon cancer, however, can have a dire effect on your prognosis. If you suffer because of a delayed diagnosis, giving the disease a chance to progress to a more advanced stage, chances of a successful recovery fall dramatically.

Colon cancer starts in the large intestine and, as with many types of bowel cancer, can be treatable when caught early. However, if given time to spread to other parts of the body, the outlook is worsened, so accurate early diagnosis is crucial.

Where your disease has become more advanced as a result of misdiagnosis, the treatment needed becomes more aggressive, and the side effects more challenging.

These are factors that we consider when we look at your claim for compensation and calculate the amount that we believe that you should be awarded.

Why trust Sheldon Davidson Solicitors with your claim?

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors understand that receiving a misdiagnosis of colon cancer is incredibly upsetting, and that no amount of money can undo the suffering caused as a result.

However, making a claim can take away some of the financial burden you may be facing, freeing you up to focus solely on your recovery and the things that are truly important.

It is important to choose a highly experienced and empathetic firm of cancer misdiagnosis claims experts, with a proven track record. We will fight tirelessly on your behalf to get you the medical care that you need, the compensation that you deserve, and an acknowledgment of the harm caused to you by your colon cancer misdiagnosis.

Based in the North West, Sheldon Davidson Solicitors work with clients from across England and Wales; speak to us today with no obligation for advice on your case.

We know that deciding to claim for compensation can feel daunting, especially when you are already dealing with so much, so let us support you and guide you through the process.

We can offer legal representation on a no win, no fee basis, so you don’t need to worry about how you are going to finance your claim in advance.

Contact Us

Our Manchester Medical Negligence Lawyers, act regularly for clients across Greater Manchester including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham, and Whitefield.

As recognised personal injury solicitors, we can support your needs wherever you live in Wales, England & Northern Ireland.

We specialise in no win no fee claims, which means if you don't win, you won't have to pay.

Call us for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.

With Sheldon Davidson Solicitors in Manchester, you can be confident that your colon cancer misdiagnosis claim is in safe hands.