Breast cancer is the most common cancer with around 55,000 women diagnosed each year in the UK alone. Fortunately, survival is improving and has doubled in the last 40 years in the UK due to a combination of improvements to care, faster diagnosis, earlier detection through screening and raising awareness.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic many screenings have been cancelled with an estimated 3 million fewer people being screened between March 2020 and September 2020 (Cancer Research 2021) and the number of patients starting cancer treatment, having been diagnosed through screening in England, was 42% lower in April 2020 to March 2021 compared with pre-pandemic.
If a medical professional or doctor fails to provide care to the necessary, acceptable standard, you may be entitled to make a claim for misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Failure to conduct, or refer for, further necessary tests or failing to conduct the investigations to an appropriate standard can have devastating consequences. Delays in treatment can prolong the illness or tragically result in death.
If a patient is showing symptoms of breast cancer their GP should refer them for the “triple test” investigation, this includes:
Our Norwich solicitors have also helped people who have experienced misdiagnosis, where clients have suffered both psychologically and physically from having undergone unnecessary surgeries such as a mastectomy.
If you, a family member or friend, have suffered unnecessarily due to a mistake made by a GP, nurse or doctor during the treatment or diagnosis of breast cancer, we have the expertise and experience necessary to help you claim compensation. Our Medical Negligence team, Sara Westwood and Simon Bransby, have experience in representing clients who have suffered due to the failure in proper investigations and prompt treatment being carried out. Both are “Recommended Lawyers” in The Legal 500 2022.