In the UK, February is oesophageal cancer awareness month. It is incredibly important to raise awareness about the symptoms, it’s causes, who and how many are affected and in what circumstances a patient may need to seek legal advice.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The most common symptoms of oesophageal or throat cancer are experiencing difficulty swallowing and having a feeling like something is stuck in your throat. Other symptoms can also include:
- Reflux, nausea and vomiting;
- Loss of weight;
- Pain in the chest and back or pain in the throat or chest when swallowing;
- Indigestion or heartburn that does not clear; and
- Developing a hoarse voice or cough that does not go away.
Around 9000 people in the UK are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year. It is the 8th most common cancer worldwide and smoking and age are significant risk factors for the development of the disease. Around 40 out of 100 sufferers (around 40%) are aged 75 and over. Statistically, it is more likely to affect men than women.
Missed or delayed diagnosis
Fortunately, most oesophageal cancers are diagnosed in time however the disease can take several years to progress and is poorly understood. Early diagnosis is crucial and survival rate statistics suggest that: –
- Around 65% of people with stage 1 oesophageal cancer will survive for 5 years or more;
- Around 30% of people with stage 2 oesophageal cancer will survive for 5 years or more;
- Around 20% of people with stage 3 oesophageal cancer will survive for 5 years or more;
- Around 5% of people with stage 4 oesophageal cancer will survive for 4 years or more.
According to a study published in 2018 by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), around 6.4% of the cohort studied accounted for missed oesophageal cancers suggesting that the instance of missed or delayed diagnosis was relatively uncommon. Unfortunately, uncommon does not mean that it never happens.
Delayed diagnosis of oesophageal cancer claim
I successfully pursued a claim for compensation for the widow of a man who died due to a delayed diagnosis of oesophageal cancer. He had symptoms of feeling like food was stuck in his throat. He was unable to clear his throat and this feeling would not subside. He saw his GP on 3 occasions over several months, but his GP was not concerned by his symptoms despite his risk factors (age and smoking history amongst others). He went on to develop a hoarse voice and started to experience reflux. He returned to his GP but nothing further was done. Around 14 months after his first visit, he returned to his GP again following a noticeable loss of weight. His symptoms were investigated, and he was diagnosed with stage 4 oesophageal cancer.
Due to the delay in his diagnosis, his cancer was very advanced and had spread to other areas of his body. His prognosis was poor, and he sadly died several months later. Following his death, his widow contacted me for advice about a claim for compensation. With the assistance of expert evidence, I was able to prove that the man should have been referred for suspected cancer much sooner than he was. Had he been referred earlier, it was more likely than that his cancer would have been caught at an earlier stage and his prognosis would have been far better than it was. I was able to obtain compensation for his widow. Though her husband’s loss was immeasurable, the compensation enabled her to address the resulting financial hardship. She was able to pay off the mortgage and achieve financial security.
How can we help you?
If you have suffered a delay in diagnosis of oesophageal cancer, we can assist. Cases where compensation may be due include:
- Missed or delays in diagnosis leading to a worsening of the condition or a terminal diagnosis;
- Failure to provide treatment quickly after a diagnosis
- Poorly performed cancer-removal surgery resulting in further damage
- Inadequate follow-up care, including errors in radiotherapy and chemotherapy
If you or a loved one have 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 Johnathan Steventon-Kiy or 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.
