Bowel Cancer Misdiagnosis & Bowel Cancer Negligence Claims

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors have a team of cancer misdiagnosis claims specialists who support and represent patients who have suffered as a result of misdiagnosis, delayed treatment or missed diagnosis of bowel cancer.

We understand that receiving a diagnosis of bowel cancer will mean that you are facing an incredibly anxious and challenging time.

We will do everything that we can to support you and your family; contact us as soon as possible for a free initial consultation.

If we determine that you have a claim, we will fight to ensure that you receive the right treatment and the compensation that you are entitled to.

In the UK, bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer, with one person diagnosed every 15 minutes.  However, despite being so prevalent, we still see so many cases going unrecognised by medical professionals, which really should have been picked up and treated.

Bowel cancer can be successfully treated and cured, but early detection is key. Most people diagnosed at Stage 1 of the disease will survive, but prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial.  

Any delay can have an adverse impact on a patient’s chances of making a full recovery.

If you feel that your medical care or treatment fell below reasonable standards and has contributed to your late diagnosis, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Do I have a bowel cancer negligence claim?

Medical misdiagnosis occurs when you have presented to a medical professional with symptoms, and they fail to recognise, or to accurately diagnose your condition when they should have done so.

Doctors and other medical professionals have a duty of care to their patients, and if they fall short of these standards, causing a negative impact on your health and well-being, you may be entitled to seek compensation.

A claim for misdiagnosis of bowel cancer may be possible where:

• a GP has failed to properly examine you
• you were not sent for tests or investigations after going to your GP with symptoms
• your test results were not followed up
• your test results were recorded inaccurately or interpreted incorrectly
• you were incorrectly diagnosed with a different condition and received incorrect treatment as a result.

We will investigate your case, and if your treatment can be demonstrated to have been negligent, we will work ceaselessly to get you the support, treatment and recompense that you need.

What am I entitled to?

If you have suffered due to an incorrect or delayed diagnosis of bowel cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for the impact that this has had on your life.

Bowel cancer compensation pay outs vary according to the individual circumstances of each case.

General damages are the most commonly awarded remedy as recompense for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. The amount awarded is calculated by considering:

• whether your prognosis or life expectancy have been impacted by your misdiagnosis
• the length of recovery time you are facing
• physical and emotional pain and suffering caused as a result of the misdiagnosis.

As well as claiming for general damages, you may also be able to claim for:

• loss of earnings
• medical expenses
• necessary care and assistance
• rehabilitation costs.

The amount of compensation payable will depend on the circumstances of your case and can only be calculated when we have a full understanding of the impact of the misdiagnosis on your health and chances of recovery.

For a free consultation, speak to one of our expert medical negligence solicitors without delay; they will be able to give you an approximate estimation of the settlement figure you can expect for your circumstances.

How do I make a bowel cancer claim?

Diagnosing bowel cancer early is crucial to maximise your chance of recovery. Mistakes are sometimes made, but if a medical professional has failed to give you the level of treatment that any other practitioner with the same qualifications and experience would have provided, then your care has been negligent.

If you feel that the handling of your diagnosis has been negligent, and it can be demonstrated that your health and prognosis have been adversely impacted by this, then you may have grounds to make a claim for bowel cancer misdiagnosis.

Seek legal advice as early as you possibly can - we will examine the circumstances of your case, the stage that your cancer is at, and the impact that your misdiagnosis has caused. All you need to do in the first instance is to get in touch; if we can demonstrate that you have been misdiagnosed, then we will do everything that we can to take your case forward on your behalf, removing as much of the stress as possible from you at this difficult time.

Are there any time limits for making a bowel cancer misdiagnosis claim?

It is important to contact us as soon as possible – you have three years from becoming aware of the misdiagnosis of your bowel cancer in which to make a claim. Even if you think that time might have run out, it is still prudent to reach out to our medical negligence team; there may be some discretion in limited circumstances. Our experts will be able to advise you on the help available to you in your case.

What is bowel cancer and how is it diagnosed?

Bowel cancer refers to the type of cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum, also often referred to as colorectal cancer. When caught at Stage 1, the outlook is good, with roughly 95% of men and 100% of women surviving beyond 5 years after diagnosis and treatment. If diagnosis or treatment is delayed, the disease will progress and possibly spread to other organs, making it much more difficult and invasive to treat.

Bowel cancer, or colorectal cancer affects the following areas of the body:

• colon: The colon is the first part of the large bowel, made up of several sections and is about five feet long.
• small bowel: the small bowel makes up most of the digestive system. Cancer of the small bower is rare.
• rectum: rectal cancer starts in the back passage or rectum.

When you visit your GP with symptoms of bowel cancer, they should examine you and may make arrangements for you to have further tests. These can include a blood test and a FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test). If either of these tests are abnormal you should be referred for further testing at the hospital, including:

• a sigmoidoscopy
• a colonoscopy
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)

If these tests indicate that you have bowel, or colorectal cancer, the treatment you should receive will depend on the type of cancer that you have, and the stage that the disease has reached.

The main treatments for bowel cancer include:

• surgery
• chemotherapy
• radiotherapy
• chemoradiotherapy.

If left untreated, bowel cancer can spread to another part of the body through the lymphatic system and through the bloodstream. Blood flows from the bowel directly to the liver, making this a common place for the cancer to spread to, but it can also spread to other organs, and into the bones if not treated.

Given the way that bowel cancer grows and spreads, it is easy to see why early diagnosis and treatment are so important. Your prognosis and chances of successful treatment are directly affected by the stage that the cancer has reached at the time of diagnosis.

If your cancer has progressed, it is likely to need more aggressive treatment, which is going to have a greater impact on your life and health. If you feel that this could have been avoided if your concerns were addressed at an earlier stage, you will no doubt feel extremely upset and frustrated.

If your diagnosis was delayed, your test results were misinterpreted, or your treatment was incorrect at any stage, contact us as soon as possible to discuss whether you have a claim for bowel cancer misdiagnosis.

Why choose Sheldon Davidson Solicitors?

Established in Manchester in 1997, our highly experienced cancer misdiagnosis specialists have helped countless patients, throughout the north west of England and beyond, to get the compensation they deserve after a bowel cancer misdiagnosis.

We fully understand the fear and uncertainty that comes with a misdiagnosis, and we fight ceaselessly to ensure that our clients can access the medical treatment, care and financial support that they need.

We don’t believe that you should be left to worry and struggle if your health has suffered following negligence or misdiagnosis. By bringing a case, not only are you getting the reparation that you need, but you are raising awareness of the importance of correctly diagnosing and treating bowel cancer.

With every case that is brought, lessons are learnt, and hopefully this will lead to better management of the disease in the future.

If you want to make a claim for bowel cancer misdiagnosis, either for you or for a family member, speak to one of our legal team today.

We offer a free initial consultation and will assess whether what has happened to you constitutes a breach of the duty of care owed to a patient presenting with bowel cancer.

If so, we will call on every medical expert and specialist available to us to ensure that we build the strongest possible claim for you. We specialise in no-win, no fee claims, so that you do not need to worry about the financial costs of making a claim if we don’t win your case.

Find out how Sheldon Davidson solicitors can help you, and you’ll find that your case is in safe hands.

Contact Us

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

As a recognised personal injury claims law firm 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.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are a Lexcel accredited law firm. The Lexcel standard is only awarded by the Law Society to firms who meet the highest standards of practice management and customer service.