Cancer Mis-Diagnosis
Medical mistakes due to GP’s and or Hospitals delayed cancer diagnosis could be reduced due to a revolutionary new blood test that could be rolled out by the NHS in 2024.
The Galleri blood test, developed by the US company Grail, has the potential to transform cancer care by identifying 50 different types of cancer before symptoms become apparent. The head of the NHS has stated that this test could be offered to one million people and be conducted in people’s own homes in the future. The test is currently being trialed in 142,000 individuals without symptoms in England, and the results of this trial are expected to be reported in April.
The NHS plans to launch a pilot screening program involving one million patients over two years starting in the summer, provided the early results of the trial are successful. It is estimated that the program could detect 5,000 potential cases of cancer annually. If the provisional results prove positive, the NHS intends to expand the test to an additional one million people across the country from the following summer. The aim is to diagnose more people with cancer at an earlier stage, as early detection greatly increases the chances of successful treatment.
The Galleri test has shown promising results in previous studies, with approximately 40% of individuals who tested positive later being diagnosed with cancer. This level of accuracy surpasses certain “red flag symptoms” that prompt referrals for further testing. The potential of the test is considered significant, but it is crucial to await formal trial results before drawing definitive conclusions.
The introduction of home testing kits for various health conditions, similar to how individuals could test for COVID-19 during the pandemic, is also envisioned as a possibility for cancer testing in the future. This would allow individuals to conduct their own tests and engage more actively in managing their health.
The results presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago indicated that using the Galleri test in patients with cancer symptoms could expedite diagnoses and help the NHS meet waiting time targets. The hope is that this test will aid in reducing the workload of healthcare professionals and lead to more efficient and accurate diagnoses, particularly for individuals with suspected symptoms of cancer.
Delayed Cancer Diagnosis and Compensation Solicitors
We are experts in this field, and if you or a member of your family or friend consider that a GP or hospital have failed to spot the signs of cancer that may have contributed to a delay in treatment, causing unnecessary harm and stress, please contact our medical negligence solicitors in Liverpool.
The Most Misdiagnosed Types of Cancer Types
With our knowledge and experience, we have put together what we believe are the five most common types of cancers that are detected late or misdiagnosed:
This list is not exhaustive as many other cancers are detected late or misdiagnosed.
If you seek clarity or legal advice, contact our experienced personal injury claims solicitors today.
