Cancer is something that has affected almost everyone in some way or another, whether it is yourself or a family member, friend or colleague. Being diagnosed with cancer is a scary and upsetting time. According to Cancer Research UK, there were around 357,000 new diagnoses of cancer in the UK in 2014; roughly 980 cases each day.

Most people affected by cancer receive quick specialist care and fortunately, many types of cancer now have very good survival rates including testicular cancer, skin cancer and breast cancer.

However, a study by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in July 2017 showed that cancer survival rates in the UK are far behind other European countries. The UK has the worst survival outcome for ovarian cancer in Europe and the second worst survival rate for lung cancer. It appears that the UK’s spending on cancer care does not match up to other European countries, which covers everything from diagnosis through to surgery and radiotherapy/chemotherapy.

So what happens when the signs are missed, or where an administrative or medical error means that you are not referred on for further investigations and you do not get the treatment you need? These types of errors can cause even more stress for people dealing with a cancer diagnosis and delays sometimes mean that a patient’s life expectancy is shortened or they have to undergo more severe treatment such as chemotherapy, as the cancer has spread. As well as needing additional care from friends and family members, some people have a reduced life expectancy and there can also be psychological damage caused as a result of the negligent care.  

Cancer claims can be difficult to investigate, as firstly, you must prove that the care you receive has been substandard, for example that your GP should have referred you for further investigation, but they failed to do so. Secondly, you have to show that this has made a difference to your condition. Sometimes a delay doesn’t mean that the outcome is any different, as the cancer may not have spread or become any worse even when there has been a delay.

Jackson Lees have obtained compensation for several clients in connection with cancer claims. The amount of compensation that can be claimed depends on the effect that the delay or the negligent treatment has had on their condition. Some case studies are as follows:-

• Delayed diagnosis of colorectal cancer by a GP, requiring otherwise unnecessary chemotherapy - £25,000
• Delay in diagnosis of lung cancer for almost two years after it was missed on a scan, resulting in premature death – over £115,000
• Negligent cancer surgery and aftercare - £15,000
• Delay in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer leading to the cancer spreading and becoming incurable - £550,000

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