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Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

Receiving a misdiagnosis for cancer has serious and often life-changing consequences. Cancer misdiagnosis claims can arise where opportunities for timely diagnosis are missed leading to conditions developing to a more advanced stage. In some cases, these delays in diagnosis and treatment can affect life expectancy.

Our cancer misdiagnosis solicitors specialise in getting compensation for those who have suffered as a result of an incorrect judgement from a medical professional.

All our cases work on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you only have to pay us for our help if we are successful.

Legal 500 uk-top-tier-firm-202“Hodge Jones & Allen have a team of experienced and dedicated clinical negligence practitioners. They offer an excellent service to their clients and are highly empathetic. They persist in investigating claims where other firms might not.” – Legal 500, 2023

Hodge Jones & Allen_Chambers 2023_pngThe team has been ranked in the Chambers & Partners 2024 legal directory. The team was described as “professional and quick to respond to any questions. They have demonstrated skills and handle complex cases with sensitivity.”

Contact our specialist Medical Negligence Claims team on the number below, or request a call back.

0808 271 9413

    What cancer misdiagnosis claims can we help with?

    • Bowel Cancer
    • Lung Cancer
    • Breast cancer
    • Cervical Cancer
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Skin Cancer

    "Absolutely amazing company. Lawyer we have is very professional and well organised. Great support and understanding of the client's needs. Very well recommend it to others. We are thankful from the bottom of our heart to have such an amazing lawyer who was in touch constantly regarding the case' progress and updates. Very grateful for all support, help and outcome."

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    Bowel cancer

    Cancer of any type is a devastating diagnosis and it is believed that 1 in 3 people in the UK will be diagnosed with a cancer of some type in our lives. The general rule is that the earlier the diagnosis is made the better the outcome will be. A delay of years or even months can be crucial for your outcome.

    We represent bowel cancer patients throughout the UK who have sadly suffered injury, complications, and worse outcomes due to delayed diagnosis or incorrect treatment. A delay in the diagnosis of bowel cancer can have a serious impact on your health and your final outcome.

    Contact our medical negligence experts today on
    0808 271 9413
    or request a call back.
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    Lung cancer

    Lung cancer is the growth of abnormal cells. One abnormal cell (perhaps damaged by smoking) can multiply and spread. The cells that spread the disease can divide rapidly and form tumours which eventually start to cause symptoms. Sadly, for many patients the symptoms only become apparent once the condition is very well advanced.

    "They are a professional and approachable team who care about their clients' needs." Chambers UK, 2021

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    Breast Cancer

    Thankfully, due to advances in science and improved awareness, the survival rate for breast cancer is now very high. Almost 80% of breast cancer patients will have a very good outcome from their treatment.

    Since the introduction of the breast cancer screening programme, the chances of an early diagnosis have increased dramatically. Public awareness campaigns and charity education programmes have also made many more women aware of this condition and how to spot the early signs.

    Unfortunately, despite all this good work it is still the case that 1 in 10 breast cancer diagnoses occur later than is optimal for the patient.

    "Excellent across the board in clinical negligence." "Very good at complex claimant work." Legal 500, 2021

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    Cervical cancer

    New advances in vaccination and a comprehensive screening programme will hopefully reduce the incidence of this type of cancer.

    Nevertheless, several thousand new cases are reported each year in the UK. Some of these cases will sadly lead to a very poor outcome and often the patient is very young in these tragic cases.

    Contact our medical negligence experts today on
    0808 271 9413
    or request a call back.
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    Prostate cancer

    Prostate cancer is becoming a very common cancer diagnosis in the UK – up to 40,000 men each year receive this diagnosis. The good news is that it is also one of the most survivable of all cancer diagnoses. Most UK oncologists agree that prostate cancer is very treatable if diagnosed in the early stages.

    However, any delay in treatment could have a severe impact on life expectancy or the health of the patient.

    Early diagnosis of prostate cancer will ensure that the treatment can be conservative – before the cancer has developed or spread. Perhaps surgery or radiotherapy could have been avoided with an earlier diagnosis. Or maybe the patient would have survived if the diagnosis had not been delayed. More information is available in the FAQ section of this page.

    "Partner of the company Emma Wray was with us the whole way through step-by-step keep us up-to-date it throughout would really recommend this company and Emma array as they are worth every penny."

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    Skin cancer

    We are very aware of how distressing news of a cancer diagnosis can be. We are familiar with these types of cases having acted for patients and their families for forty years. Many of our solicitors are medically trained and they are all very aware of the impact of a cancer diagnosis of any type.

    Thankfully, when caught early cancer can have little or no impact on the patient’s quality of life and final prognosis. On other occasions a late diagnosis can lead to the cancer spreading to other organs.

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    How much compensation can I receive?

    As cancer affects all of us differently, misdiagnosis of cancer compensation can vary from person to person. It is also affected by the particular needs and requirements of each client as well as the severity of the detriment following the misdiagnosis.

    Generally, you may claim damages for the following:

    • Loss of a loved one
    • Pain and suffering caused by additional treatment which could have been avoided
    • Complications arising from additional treatment which could have been avoided
    • Loss of earnings
    • Reduced life expectancy

    "Brilliant service from start to finish staff were fantastic throughout always kept you updated and advice where needed. Can not fault them one but would defiantly recommend to anyone."

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    Why Hodge Jones & Allen solicitors?

    Our team of experienced medical negligence solicitors have spent years in the legal field and many have professional backgrounds in the medical area too. We are nationally recognised as a leading law firm for medical negligence and cancer misdiagnosis claims. Our expert team is on hand to offer you the help you and your family need, providing you with guidance and handling your case with care.

    Contact our specialist experts today on
    0808 271 9413
    to find out how we can help.
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    Featured cases

    Delayed diagnosis due to radiologist’s error

    The patient’s DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) should have been identified on a mammogram 18 months ago but the radiologist failed to see the obvious signs on the scan. As a result of the delay the patient required major surgery rather than a lumpectomy. When surgery was performed the patient had a difficult recovery period and developed an infection. With expert evidence, we’ve proved that the patient would have avoided the major surgery if she had been diagnosed earlier. As a result of the infection she suffered from severe scarring which in turn led to chronic regional pain syndrome.

    Outcome: £150,000 from an out of court settlement

    Severe delay in cervical cancer diagnosis

    One of our solicitors acted for the dependants of JH – a 23-year-old girl who was repeatedly seen at G.U.M (Genito-Urinary Medicine) clinics and hospital appointments over the course of two years. Tragically her diagnosis was severely delayed and she passed away leaving her partner to bring up their child as a single parent.

    Outcome: £250,000 via out of court settlement

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    Meet The Team
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    Agata Usewicz
    Agata Usewicz
    Partner
    Andrew Harrison
    Andrew Harrison
    Partner
    Dawn Treloar
    Dawn Treloar
    Partner
    Emma Wray
    Emma Wray
    Partner
    Geoff Simpson-Scott
    Geoffrey Simpson-Scott
    Partner
    Nina Ali
    Nina Ali
    Partner
    Adefolaju Sanda
    Adefolaju Sanda
    Associate
    Alastair Banks
    Alastair Banks
    Paralegal
    Christina Jose
    Litigation Executive
    Ellen Forsyth
    Paralegal
    Grace Foley
    Paralegal
    Jasia Kazmi
    Paralegal
    Karen Webster
    Karen Webster
    Associate
    Nadine Refaat
    Nadine Refaat
    Associate
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    Natalie Wellock
    Associate
    Petia Vasdev
    Petia Vasdev
    Solicitor
    Ronan Stewart
    Rónán Stewart
    Trainee

    Frequently asked questions

    What can be achieved by bringing a claim?

    Can I bring a claim on behalf of a deceased relative?

    Yes, it may possible for you to bring a claim on behalf of a deceased person. In order to do so the family of the deceased will need to obtain a Grant of Probate. Applying for Probate is a process in which forms are submitted to the Probate Office. Only when Probate has been approved does the legal system recognise the Administrator or the Executor as being able to deal with the Deceased’s estate. The Grant of Probate is issued by the local Probate Registry. The process can take several weeks.

    An ‘Administrator’ is a person who is granted Probate when there is no will in place when a person passes away. An ‘Executor’ is the person granted Probate when the deceased has made a will.

    An Administrator or Executor is able to bring claims for all of the Dependants of as a patient who has passed away.

    Once the Grant of Probate has been made the Executor will instruct Hodge Jones Allen to investigate the case. The Executor or Administrator is responsible for including all of the Deceased’s dependants in the claim.

    You can find out more information about claims relating to deceased persons here.

    What are the different types of skin cancer claims?

    There is no typical Malignant Melanoma / skin cancer case but we have experience of;

    • Admin errors in dealing with pathology samples
    • Failure to suspect malignancy
    • Pathology errors – classifying a biopsy as benign when in fact it is malignant
    • False positive results – diagnosing cancer in error leading to invasive treatment

    What are the common errors in cervical cancer treatment?

    Failure to diagnose – this can be due to failure to recognise the symptoms or administrative failure such as failing to arrange a smear test

    Delay in diagnosis – this can be caused by delayed hospital treatment or performing the wrong tests in a hospital setting.

    How have our solicitors acted in breast cancer negligence cases?

    Delayed or misdiagnosed breast cancer – Negligent hospital treatment

    Sometimes error can occur with hospital treatment. This might be due to;-

    • Ultrasound/ Mammogram negligence– failing to identify the signs of a cancer
    • Staging errors– if the cancer is incorrectly diagnosed then the treatment given may not be effective. For example, a lumpectomy only might be performed instead of a mastectomy. Or perhaps radiotherapy is not offered when the patient requires this to prevent a recurrence. Errors can occur with pathology results also.
    • Surgery– surgical errors can occur leading to life changing complications

    Delayed Or Misdiagnosed Breast Cancer – Negligent GP treatment

    The diagnosis of this condition can be delayed due to many factors. Errors often occur because of delayed referrals by GPs or perhaps due to errors in the hospital investigations.

    Further Reading
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