Missed Cancer Diagnosis and Delayed Treatment

Pearson’s specialist Medical Negligence Solicitors recently acted for a client in the case of a missed cancer diagnosis.

Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust admitted a breach of duty of care and made a £12,500 settlement after it was found that, had a ‘timely diagnosis’ been made, alternative treatments could have been implemented which would have improved the patient’s quality of life.

Mrs D first visited her GP complaining of shortness of breath. The GP arranged an x-ray which showed a loss of lung volume. Mrs D continued to lose weight and developed pains in her ribs. Her GP referred her for a CT scan which showed lesions in her right lung. Mrs D was consulted at Tameside Hospital and was assured that the lesions were not serious, that there were no other issues, and that she should return for a review in six months.

However Mrs D’s symptoms continued to develop. Mrs D developed a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and arm and shoulder pains. She was sent for another x-ray eight months later and it was found that she had lung cancer. Further scans at The Christie Hospital confirmed that the cancer had also spread to the liver. Radiotherapy was commenced but Mrs D’s condition deteriorated and she eventually died.

Commenting on the case, Medical Negligence Solicitor, Kenneth Lees, said: “A misinterpretation of the earlier CT scan led to a delayed diagnosis. Earlier treatment would have certainly meant an improved quality of life and may have meant that Mrs D would have lived longer.”

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