Late Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Compensation Claims
Prostate Cancer when left untreated due to medical negligence, usually caused by late diagnosis or misdiagnosis can result in unnecessary treatment, reduced quality of life, additional pain and suffering and it could also be fatal. You or if fatal the estate of the Deceased could entitle you to make a claim for compensation due to a misdiagnosis of cancer of the prostrate. This type of cancer is shown to have a worrying trend whereby 37% of cancer cases were at stages 3 and 4.
Background of Prostate Cancer in the UK
Prostate Cancer has 4 stages, each progressively worse and more lethal; this can severely affect the survival rate. For Example:
- Stages 1 & 2: The Cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, often called a localised or ‘early stage’ cancer.
- Stage 3: The Cancer has spread beyond just the prostate, yet only the surrounding tissues; often called, ‘locally advanced prostate cancer’.
- Stage 4: The cancer has spread outside the prostate and has metastasized to other parts of the body; liver, lungs, bones for example. This is often called ‘advanced prostate cancer’.
Due to how vitally important it is discovering the cancer at an early stage, it is alarming to learn that Prostate Cancer is being diagnosed late – via Orchid article listed below – Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, primarily those aged between 70-80.
A study conducted by ‘Movember’, has indicated that globally, more than 1.3 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Furthermore, there are more than 300,000 men living with and beyond the disease; many are dealing with serious side effects of the treatment.
See: Movember – About Us
For the first time in the UK, statistics shown from February indicate deaths from Prostate Cancer have exceeded those of Breast Cancer. The Chief Executive of Orchid, Rebecca Porta has suggested that due to the cancer delays and failure to diagnose the cancer at an early enough stage to treat successfully, Prostate Cancer will be the most prevalent cancer in the UK within the next 12 years.
In comparison to America, 25% of Prostate Cancer cases in the UK are diagnosed at an advanced stage, compared to 8% in the UK. These statistics are a sobering thought considering that 26% of all new cases of cancer in men are Prostate Cancer – it is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cause of cancer deaths within men in the UK.
See: Prostate cancer: Four in 10 cases diagnosed late, charity says – BBC News
How to Spot the Signs of Prostate Cancer
Due to the majority Prostate Cancers’ symptoms being somewhat unnoticeable until a later stage, it is vitally important that you get yourself checked, and look out for the symptoms. Due to a lot of the symptoms being easily misdiagnosed by medical professionals, the mortality rate is drastically increasing in comparison to Breast Cancer.
See: Prostate cancer deaths overtake those from breast cancer – BBC News
A lot of men ignore the initial symptoms until it is too late, this can have a dramatic effect on the survival rate as well as prolonging effects which can present further complications. The symptoms you should look out for are as such:
- Inability to urinate
- Blood in urine
- Frequent urination (particularly at night)
- Difficulty starting/ stopping urine flow
- Pain/ burning sensation when urinating
- Weak urine flow
- Continuous back, pelvis and upper thigh pain.
Cancer Quest has listed a detailed symptoms list which should be followed when looking for the initial signs.
See: Prostate Cancer | CancerQuest
A report filed by ‘Orchid’ in 2018 highlights a worrying trend is late Prostate Cancer diagnosis’, calling the trend a ‘ticking time bomb in terms of Prostate Cancer provision’.
Orchid found staggering statistics, indicating that 42% of Prostate Cancer patients saw their GP with symptoms twice or more before they were referred; even more shocking is that 6% of patients were seen 5 or more times prior to referral).
Experts in the medical fields are collectively pointing out the deficiencies with the current Prostate Cancer diagnostics; the current PSA testing system proves deficient and ineffective when catching symptoms before they reach the serious stages (3 & 4) whereby the mortality rate drastically increases.
In addition to the article posted by Orchid, an article posted by BBC news shows the worrying increase in the mortality rate of Prostate Cancer when compared to Breast Cancer, statistics and trend analysis indicates the amount of deaths from Prostate Cancer due to delayed diagnosis and medical negligence is only set to rise in the coming future as well.
Due to Prostate Cancer predominantly affecting older men, as well as the current ageing UK population; Orchid has labelled the current events a ‘crisis’ and only expects matter to get worse, the articles listed below cover in further detail.
See: Prostate cancer deaths overtake those from breast cancer – BBC News
How Can I Make A Claim For Delayed Prostrate Cancer?
If you received a misdiagnosis or delayed cancer diagnosis, you should be able to claim for medical negligence. We can obtain specialist medical expert advice to advise on the treatment you have received, and if possible to correct any mistakes and look to obtain the treatment you need to increase your quality of life.
If the delay or misdiagnosis has caused the death of a loved one, you can find out who is entitled to claim compensation by seeing our specialist specialist website: dependency claims, who can claim.
When a loved one has died due to misdiagnosis of cancer, it’s possible to recover compensation on their behalf. You may be able to claim if you are the spouse or child of the deceased. Often there is a three-year time limit after the date of the death to make a claim so you must provide your solicitor with instructions quickly. The three year period may be extended. However, the sooner a claim is made the better.
In any case, a delay to cancer treatment often means the disease could spread further, reducing the chance of survival. If you can prove your delayed cancer diagnosis was caused by medical negligence, then you may have a claim.
If you think you are eligible for a Clinical Negligence Claim. Call On: 0151 724 7121. Or, get in contact via our
Website: Contact Us | Hutcheon Law
Also Read: – The 5 Most Common Misdiagnosed Cancer Claims – Hutcheon Law
– Bowel Cancer Compensation
– Pancreatic Cancer Compensation
– Stomach Cancer Compensation
– Colorectal Cancer Compensation
