Gastric Cancer Negligence & Misdiagnosis Claims Solicitors

The stomach plays an important role within the digestive system, using acids and enzymes to break down the food and liquids you consume. It consists of the proximal stomach and distal stomach, as well as five layers including the mucosa, submucosa, serosa, subserosa, and muscularis. The layers of the stomach are the main determiners used to stage the cancer, and knowing the stage of the cancer allows doctors to prescribe the best course of treatment and work out the prognosis for the patient.

There are several different types of gastric cancer, including:

• Adenocarcinomas – Originating in the mucosa, this is the most common type of gastric cancer.
• Lymphomas – This type of stomach cancer begins in the lymphocyte cells of the immune system.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) – This type of stomach cancer begins in the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) before spreading to other parts of the body.
• Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) – A NET can form anywhere in the digestive tract and spreads rapidly within the gastric system.

Whichever type of gastric cancer you have been diagnosed with, if your diagnosis was delayed due to medical negligence of any kind, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

At Lanyon Bowdler our team of medical negligence solicitors will guide you through the process, answering any questions you may have.

Some of the symptoms of a brain tumour can also be indicative of other, less serious, conditions such as sinusitis or migraines, as well as other serious conditions such as stroke or Multiple Sclerosis. If the wrong diagnosis is  made, it can lead to a patient undergoing unnecessary treatment, whilst at the same time missing out on the treatment that is actually required. This delay in receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment can lead to the cancer growing and spreading, potentially making it untreatable, and therefore affecting a persons’ long term prognosis.

The symptoms of gastric cancer can also be indicative of several other, less serious conditions. Some patients may not take symptoms such as sickness, bloating, and acid reflux seriously enough to see their GP; or they may see their GP and be diagnosed with a condition such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or an illness such as gastroenteritis.

Stomach cancer symptoms can vary from person to person, but some of the key signs to look out for include:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach pain
• Lump in the stomach
• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling full quickly
• Dysphagia
• Indigestion
• Bloating
• Acid reflux
• Heartburn
• Fatigue

Of course, many of us experience some of these symptoms from time to time. However, if you are experiencing any of them over a prolonged period of time and/or they are becoming worse, it is advisable to see your GP as soon as possible.

Once gastric cancer has been diagnosed, the next step is to determine what stage the cancer is at, as this will then allow doctors to prescribe the most suitable course of treatment. There are four stages of stomach cancer, with each one progressively worse than the last:

• Stage 1 – The cancer is contained within the stomach wall
• Stage 2 – The cancer has spread beyond the stomach wall, potentially into the inner layer of the stomach, or to nearby lymph nodes
• Stage 3 – The cancer has spread into the inner muscle or outer layer of the stomach, as well as nearby lymph nodes
• Stage 4 – The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, both nearby and far away from the initial tumour location

When gastric cancer is diagnosed at stage 1, the chances of recovery are fairly good. However, the further the cancer progresses, the harder it becomes to treat, often meaning that the long term prognosis is less favourable. If your cancer has spread to stage 3 or 4 after a delayed diagnosis due to medical negligence, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

The type of treatment prescribed for gastric cancer will typically depend on the part of the stomach that is affected; the type and stage of the cancer; and the general health of the patient. Some of the treatment options available include:

• Surgery – Some or all of the stomach may need to be removed, in a procedure known as a gastrectomy. Some of the surrounding organs may also need to be removed if the cancer has spread beyond the stomach.
• Chemotherapy – Medicine is administered intravenously to kill the cancerous cells. This method of treatment can be used before surgery to shrink the tumour, or after surgery to ensure all of the cancerous cells are removed.
• Radiotherapy – High energy radiation rays are used to kill cancerous cells, and can be used both before and after surgery in the same way as chemotherapy. Radiotherapy may also be used to control the symptoms of advanced stomach cancer when a cure is not possible.
• Targeted medicines – These are used to seek out the cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading.
• Immunotherapy – This method uses medicines to aid the body’s immune system in killing the cancer.
• Palliative care – When the cancer is too far advanced to be curable, the only course of treatment available is palliative care. This can involve offering treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy to try and prevent the tumour from growing and spreading further in order to prolong life as much as possible. Towards the end of life, it can involve administering strong painkillers such as morphine to keep the patient as comfortable as possible.

If you feel that the treatment you received for gastric cancer was not suitable and your cancer has subsequently worsened, you may be able to claim compensation. Our specialist medical negligence team is experienced in handling claims just like yours, and we will strive to achieve the best possible result for you and your family.

Whilst it is unknown exactly why some people develop gastric cancer, there are a number of potential risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing the disease. Some of the most common risk factors for gastric cancer include:

• Smoking
• Alcohol abuse
• Being obese
• A diet high in salty/smoked foods
• A diet low in fruit and vegetables
• Family history of gastric cancer
• Suffering with gastritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Helicobacter pylori infection
• GERD
• Stomach polyps
• Pernicious anaemia

Whilst these factors may increase the risk of developing gastric cancer, they do not necessarily mean that an individual will definitely develop the disease. However, if you present to your GP with symptoms of gastric cancer, and you also fall into one or more of the above categories, your GP has a duty of care to ensure they assess you thoroughly and, where appropriate, refer you urgently for further testing to rule out or confirm the presence of cancer.