Getting a diagnosis for pancreatic cancer can be life-altering, and that impact can be aggravated by substandard medical care. If you have been on the receiving end of a negligent pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, you already know the toll that it can have on someone’s physical and emotional health. Our guide is here to help and explain how you could pursue a cancer misdiagnosis claim if you’ve suffered unnecessarily due to medical negligence.
Here at Accident Claims, our solicitors offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis. They have seen first-hand the impact that medical negligence can have on patients who experience it, and have advocated on behalf of clients across the country. So, no matter where you are, one of our specialist solicitors can be there for you.
If you have any immediate queries regarding a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, please don’t hesitate to get in touch using the contact information below:
- Call us on 0800 073 8801
- Start a claim online
- Talk to us using our live chat
Jump To A Section
- How Can Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Be Caused By Negligence?
- How Common Is A Misdiagnosis Of Pancreatic Cancer?
- What Other Conditions Could Pancreatic Cancer Be Mistaken With?
- What Are The Common Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms?
- What Are The Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors?
- What Is The Process For Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer?
- The Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer Complications
- Speak To Accident Claims About Your Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer
- More Information
How Can Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Be Caused By Negligence?
There are several ways pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis can be caused by negligence, for example:
- A doctor fails to recognise and investigate symptoms of abdominal pain, weight loss and jaundice in a patient. Consequently, the patient gets a delayed diagnosis and goes without treatment.
- A suspicious mass shows up on a patient’s scan in the hospital, but neither the radiologist nor the attending doctor pays attention to it. This means the opportunity for early medical intervention is missed, allowing the pancreatic cancer to spread to other parts of the body.
If you’ve experienced similar negligent care or would like to discuss your own situation, please speak to us today to see if we can help you get started with a claim.
How Common Is A Misdiagnosis Of Pancreatic Cancer?
While there are no definitive statistics to illustrate how common misdiagnosis of pancreatic cancer is, the disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages. This is because the pancreas sits deep in the abdomen and is hidden behind other organs. Compounding this is the fact that the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can sometimes be vague, making it more likely for the disease to be mistaken for other, more common conditions.
According to Cancer Research UK, 79% of diagnoses in England and Scotland occur at either stage 3 or 4. Unfortunately, by this stage, pancreatic cancer can be harder to treat.
If you believe you have suffered unnecessarily due to a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, please connect with one of our team members.
What Other Conditions Could Pancreatic Cancer Be Mistaken With?
Pancreatic cancer can be mistaken for several conditions, ranging from gallbladder disease to a peptic ulcer. As we’ve touched on, it can be challenging to distinguish pancreatic cancer from the above conditions.
Other conditions include:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Muscular pain
- Diverticulitis
Speak to our team of professionals if you’d like to discuss the specifics of your case and see if you can make a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claim.
What Are The Common Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms?
The most common pancreatic cancer symptoms are:
- The whites of your eyes and your skin turn yellow
- Loss of appetite, or sudden weight loss
- Feeling tired
- A high temperature or feeling hot or shivery
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in your stool
- Pain near the top of your stomach and back
- Indigestion symptoms
Do you believe these symptoms were missed when they shouldn’t have been? Speak to our team today, as you may have an eligible pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis.
What Are The Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors?
Generally, the risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:
- Being over the age of 65
- Having specific medical conditions like chronic pancreatitis
- Pancreatic cancer runs in your family
Additionally, some individuals can develop the disease if a patient is:
- Overweight
- Smokes
- Drinks excessively
- Consumes lots of red and processed meat
If you would like to talk about how a medical professional ignored these risk factors, causing you otherwise avoidable harm, please talk to us today and see if you can claim for a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis.
What Is The Process For Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer?
The process of diagnosing pancreatic cancer can involve several tests and scans, including:
- Blood tests
- Scans such as an ultrasound, CT scan, PET scan or MRI scan
- A biopsy of the pancreas
- A laparoscopy
- An ERCP test
Please speak to one of our advisors so we can assist you regarding our pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis.
The Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer Complications
A pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis can significantly worsen both a patient’s current health status and their prognosis. The complications can include:
- Delayed treatment
- Worsening symptoms
- Reduced treatment options
- Increased risk of metastasis
- A negative impact on your quality of life
Give us a call if you’re ready to discuss your pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis claim in more detail.
Speak To Accident Claims About Your Misdiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer
Here at Accident Claims, you can speak to our advisors 24/7 to discuss your potential misdiagnosed pancreatic cancer claim. They are available throughout the week and can provide you with a carefully reviewed, sensitive assessment of your situation to see if you could seek compensation with one of our solicitors.
Our solicitors offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis via a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement. They firmly believe anyone eligible to claim should be able to do so without the worry of mounting solicitor fees. In short, signing a CFA would ensure:
- You won’t have to pay solicitors’ fees if your claim fails
- You won’t have to pay solicitors’ fees while your claim is ongoing
- You won’t have to pay any upfront solicitors’ fees
If your clinical negligence claim is successful, your solicitor will take a small payment for their work. This is paid directly out of your compensation as a percentage limited by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
CFAs aren’t the only advantage of claiming with our solicitors. Here are a few examples of the services they provide:
- Provide clear, easy-to-follow advice and guidance at every step of the claims process
- Determine a fair compensation payout that reflects your pain and suffering
- Gather proof on your behalf, ensuring no stone is left unturned to strengthen your claim
- Communicate with the defendant’s solicitors and provide expert representation throughout the negotiations stage
Contact Our No Win No Fee Solicitors
Our team are here to support you, so please reach out to one of our friendly advisors today to see if you can be put in touch with a specialist No Win No Fee solicitor:
- Call us on 0800 073 8801
- Start a claim online
- Talk to us using our live chat
More Information
Some more guides by us:
- Learn more about hospital patient rights.
- Read up on some FAQs about medical negligence claims.
- Familiarise yourself with surgical negligence.
Some additional information:
- Read up on cancer in general from the NHS.
- Find out about how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) works.
- Learn about the professional standards doctors are expected to follow from the General Medical Council (GMC).
Thank you for reading our guide on pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis.
