Melanoma (Skin Cancer)

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer.  It can appear on any part of the body.  Any blemish on the skin or mole which is unusual in colour, has an uneven shape and uneven edges may be a melanoma.  The condition is normally diagnosed by excising (cutting out) the suspicious lump and looking closely at the cells under a microscope.  If it is malignant, a large area of tissue is then cut out (a ‘wide excision’).

Delays in Diagnosis/Misdiagnosis of Melanoma

If melanoma is diagnosed early the chance of cure is normally 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 melanoma can therefore be very serious.

Melanoma Compensation Claims

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

• Failure to carry out an adequate examination;
• Failing to advise a patient to return if a suspicious lump changed or grew;
• Mistakes by pathologists (doctors who examine tissue under a microscope);
• Mistaking melanoma for basal cell carcinoma (another form of skin cancer) which is less dangerous.

Importance of Melanoma 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 their dependants.

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

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