Breast Cancer Negligence Claims
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.
Entrusting your breast cancer negligence claim to our highly regarded medical negligence team means putting yourself in the best possible position to achieve the result that you want and deserve.
We combine extensive legal knowledge with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity, ensuring the process is as stress-free as possible for you and your family.
Our lawyers have years of experience in helping people to make breast cancer negligence claims. Speak to our approachable solicitors today by calling us on 0345 872 6666, or by completing our online enquiry form and we will call you back.
What Our Clients Say
How JMW Can Help
The team at JMW has helped many clients with their breast cancer negligence claims and we have the expertise, experience and proactive approach to give you the very best chance of achieving a successful outcome.
We have handled thousands of claims against the NHS and private healthcare providers on behalf of patients who have suffered because of medical negligence. We are here for you every step of the way throughout the breast cancer claims process.
Our team is headed by leading medical negligence solicitor Eddie Jones and we are renowned throughout the UK. Members of our team also make up the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors panel and the Law Society's specialist panel for clinical negligence.
How to Make a Breast Cancer Negligence Claim
When you are treated by a medical professional, you expect a certain standard of care. Unfortunately, this is not always provided and can leave you in more pain and with ongoing health problems. Cancer is a very serious illness that must be treated with urgency, giving it the care it requires as soon as possible. This is why cancer negligence claims are so important to get right.
You should begin by contacting a reputable and experienced medical negligence solicitor, such as those at JMW. Our firm has been recognised as one of the best in the country by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 due to our many years of success, and our successful breast cancer claims settlements.
When you make a claim with us, we will be able to break down your situation, explain your options to you, and suggest how to proceed. If you choose to proceed with us, we will guide you through the gathering of information and evidence. We will be able to recommend external professionals with the credentials to provide medical expertise and analysis of your situation and injuries. You will need to provide us with medical records so we can analyse them and provide them to the court as proof of your negligence if court proceedings are necessary.
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
This could be caused by doctors failing to refer you for further tests or misreading test results. This can have devastating effects, such as prolonged illness or even death, which could have been avoided or at least delayed.
On many occasions, we have represented clients who have suffered as a result of misdiagnosis, where a GP has diagnosed breast cancer as another illness, meaning the patient often does not receive the treatment they need until it is too late.
In other cases, GPs have correctly referred the patient to hospital but tests have not been carried out and reported as they ought to have been.
Three types of investigation are usually used to diagnose breast cancer:
- Clinical examination
- Ultrasound scan or mammogram
- Biopsy
Breast cancer should only be diagnosed when growth in cancer is suggested by the results of all three investigations, which are collectively known as the 'Triple Test'. The consequences of a late or incorrect breast cancer diagnosis can include:
- More invasive and intense treatment
- Shortened life expectancy
- Unnecessary removal of lymph nodes from the armpit
- Anxiety for no reason
- Deformity of the breast
- Lymphoedema, which includes painful swelling of the arm
We can also help patients who have experienced the other side of misdiagnosis - being told they have breast cancer when they do not. Many of these clients have not only suffered psychologically but also physically, having undergone a needless mastectomy - the surgical removal of one or both breasts.
Errors in Surgery
This could involve failing to remove enough of the cancerous tissue, which may leave you seriously ill when it should have improved your condition. In addition, it is sometimes the case that a mistake is made that seriously injures another part of the body.
FAQs About Breast Cancer Negligence
- Am I entitled to breast cancer negligence compensation?
You are not automatically entitled to compensation if you have been misdiagnosed; however, you may be able to claim if you have suffered because of it.
If your condition has worsened over time you should seek another diagnosis. If your doctor informs you that you still have breast cancer, you should speak to a legal expert about making a negligence claim. You may be entitled to compensation if you have suffered damages to your physical or mental health, and you can proove that the medical professional responsible has performed malpractice.
Call us now for free for more information.
- How much could I claim in compensation?
As well as damages to physical health, there are a number of other issues that breast cancer negligence can cause, and you may be able to claim a higher amount of compensation for these. Some examples of these include harm to mental health, delayed diagnosis and permanent scarring. Each of these has significant ranges in terms of financial claim and the amount you will receive will depend on your circumstances.
- What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
Symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A lump or area of thickened breast tissue
- Changes in the shape or size of the breasts
- A rash around the nipple
- Discharge from either nipple
- The nipple becoming sunken in the breast, or any other change in its appearance
- A dimpling on the skin of the breast
- A lump in either armpit
- Are there different types of breast cancer?
There are various types of breast cancer, and these include:
- Non-invasive - this type of cancer is usually detected via mammogram and is found in the ducts of the breast. It is not able to spread outside of the breast
- Invasive - This can spread outside of the breast and makes up around 80% of all breast cancer cases
- Other - These can include inflammatory breast cancer, invasive lobular breast cancer and Paget's disease of the breast
- How is breast cancer diagnosed?
If detected early enough there is a good chance of recovery from breast cancer. Women are advised to regularly check their breasts for anything out of the ordinary and to make sure they visit their GP if they notice anything amiss.
Mammographic screening is used to detect early breast lesions and all women aged 50 to 70 are invited for breast cancer screening every three years.
- How is it treated?
The disease is usually treated in the following ways to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Hormone or biological treatments (in some cases)
Talk to Us
If you believe you or someone you know has suffered due to breast cancer negligence, speak to our friendly and professional solicitors today. Do so by either calling us for free on 0345 872 6666, or by completing our online enquiry form and we will give you a call back as soon as we can. We will be able to let you know whether or not we can work with you on a no win, no fee basis.
