Before his health problems began, Adam* was fit, active and working full‑time as an air‑conditioning technician. He had no physical or mental health concerns.
In May 2019, a blood test showed Adam had a raised PSA level. PSA is a marker that can indicate prostate cancer. For someone aged 54, Adam’s level should have been 3.5 or below. His result was 5.49, which is high.
At this level, national medical guidelines say that the GP should make an urgent referral to a specialist within two weeks to check for possible prostate cancer, but Adam was not referred, and no further investigations were carried out at that time. This meant that an important warning sign was missed.
How the delay affected Adam
A year after the first raised PSA result, in June 2020, Adam went back to his GP because he was still worried about his symptoms. His PSA levels remained high, and he had also noticed a new lump, which understandably caused him real concern.
This time, the seriousness of his symptoms was recognised, and he was immediately referred to hospital for further investigation. At the hospital, Adam began the investigations he should have received a year earlier. Adam was diagnosed with prostate cancer and began treatment.
Unfortunately, by the time he finally received treatment, the cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes. This means it is no longer curable, and Adam is expected to need more treatment in the future. His doctors expect his life expectancy to be significantly shorter, with current estimates suggesting around 2028.
What should have happened
If Adam had been referred when he was originally flagged as at risk, his cancer would have been caught earlier and he would have received treatment when the cancer was still curable.
On the balance of probabilities, timely surgery and radiotherapy would have cured his cancer.
How Enable Law supported Adam
Adam came to Enable Law when he discovered the missed opportunity for early treatment. Our specialist medical negligence team investigated what had happened and confirmed that the failure to refer him in 2019 was a breach of national clinical guidelines.
We obtained expert medical evidence showing the impact of the delay, including:
- avoidable progression of cancer
- the need for more invasive treatment
- ongoing pain, symptoms and loss of independence
- a shortened life expectancy
Although nothing can undo the harm Adam has suffered, we supported him in seeking the compensation he needs for future care, treatment, and security for his family. As a result of his condition, Adam was unable to work, but Enable Law secured several interim payments that replaced his income and enabled him to continue paying his mortgage until his case was settled.
Helping others in similar situations
Even though medical professionals endeavour to provide the best possible care to their patients, mistakes can and do happen. Unfortunately, when a cancer diagnosis is delayed or missed for a long period of time, it can have a major impact on the treatment options available to patients and their longer term prognosis.
If you or a loved one has been affected by a delayed or missed cancer diagnosis, we can help you understand what may have happened and support you to make a claim to access the needed funds to help put your life back together. That often involves funding to access private treatment but also ensuring financial security for your loved ones. This enables you to focus all your energy into getting better and spending time with family and friends, without worrying about money and the impact your illness may have on them.
To have a free, confidential discussion with a member of our team call us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can call you at a time convenient to you.
*name has been changed
