Bowel Cancer Claims

Bowel Cancer

Adenocarcinoma (a form of cancer) can develop in various parts of the bowel including the colon and rectum. Bleeding when passing faeces, weight loss and tiredness may be signs of bowel cancer although they can also indicate other conditions. The condition is normally diagnosed by procedures passing a tiny camera up the rectum (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy), x-rays (with a barium enema), CT scans and biopsy (looking closely at tissue under a microscope). It is usually treated by surgery along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sometimes a small growth can be removed by colonoscopy rather than by surgery.

Delays in Diagnosis/Misdiagnosis of Bowel Cancer

If bowel cancer is diagnosed early the chance of cure may be good. Delays of a few months are unlikely to make any difference to the outcome. However if left, it is likely to grow and cancer can spread to other parts of the body.

Mistakes in diagnosing bowel cancer can therefore be very serious.

Bowel Cancer Compensation Claims

We have recovered large awards of compensation where mistakes have led to serious delays in diagnosis. These have included:

• Failure to heed warning signs such as pain and passing blood;
• Failure to carry out an adequate examination;
• Failing to advise a patient to return if their symptoms worsen;
• Failing to arrange investigations such as a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, x-rays and scans;
• Mistakes by pathologists (doctors who examine tissue under a microscope);
• Mistakes by radiologists (doctors who interpret x-rays and scans)

Importance of Bowel Cancer Compensation Claims

For people who become seriously ill with cancer and have a medical negligence claim, compensation may be very important for their quality of life. Compensation can enable them to have:

• Private medical treatment, avoiding delays and in greater comfort than in NHS hospitals;
• Nursing care at home;
• Help with housework;
• Money to make good any loss of earnings.

Where the patient sadly does not survive, a claim can provide for family members who relied on them financially or with domestic and other help.

Contact us today to talk about your delayed or misdiagnosed cancer claim

Please call 0800 916 9049 email enquiries@rjw.co.uk or use the short online enquiry form. Our dedicated medical negligence solicitors can offer immediate and accessible representation anywhere in the UK.