Renal Cancer Negligence Solicitors & Kidney Cancer Misdiagnosis Compensation Claims.

Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, is a type of cancer which originates within the kidneys. There are several different types of kidney cancer, often determined by the type of cell in which the cancer originated, as follows:

• Renal cell adenocarcinoma – This is the most common form of kidney cancer, representing approximately 80% of cases. It originates in the lining of the tubules that are responsible for filtering the urine and blood.
• Transitional cell cancers (TCCs) – This type of kidney cancer accounts for around 7-8% of diagnoses, and affects the central kidney region where urine accumulates before it enters the urethra ready to be expelled from the body.
• Wilms’ tumour – This is a type of kidney cancer that only affects children, and is also known as nephroblastoma. It occurs when immature kidney cells that were present from birth have failed to continue developing as they should, and they begin to multiply and grow uncontrollably, eventually developing into a tumour.

Kidney cancer is graded on a scale from one to four – with one being the least serious and the most treatable, and four being the most serious and advanced form of cancer. The type and grade of kidney cancer with which you are diagnosed will typically determine what treatment options are available to you.

The symptoms of kidney cancer can vary between patients, but some of the most common signs to look out for include:

• Blood in the urine
• A lump or swelling in the side or abdomen
• Pain in the lower back or the side body
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fever
• Night sweats
• Feeling fatigued
• Anaemia (iron deficiency)

This list is not exhaustive, and if you notice anything different within your body which gives you cause for concern you should arrange to see your GP to have it checked out. A delay in seeing your doctor can cause a delay in receiving an accurate diagnosis, which can therefore allow the cancer the chance to spread and progress.

Whilst it is not known exactly why some people develop kidney cancer, there are several factors that may increase your risk of developing the disease. Some of the known risk factors include:

• A family history of kidney cancer
• Individuals suffering with hypertension
• Those who are classified as being obese
• Those aged over sixty years of age
• Individuals classed as heavy smokers
• Patients with polycystic kidney disease
• Those who require long term kidney dialysis
• Exposure to certain chemicals including cadmium and asbestos
• Certain genetic conditions including Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and Cowden syndrome

Being in one or more of these higher risk categories doesn’t necessarily mean that a person will develop kidney cancer. However, your GP should be asking questions about your medical history and lifestyle and referring you urgently for further testing. A failure to consider the risk factors that you possess may constitute medical negligence, and if your condition worsens as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

If your GP suspects that your symptoms may be kidney cancer they should refer you to a specialist for further testing urgently. The specialist will perform a number of different tests in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis of your condition. These tests will typically include some or all of the following:

• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• CT scan
• MRI scan
• PET scan
• Bone scan
• X-ray
• Biopsy

If your specialist fails to order the correct diagnostic tests, or your doctor fails to put your referral through as urgent, this could lead to a delay in your receiving an accurate diagnosis, and may mean that your kidney cancer progresses unduly. Similarly, if your specialist misinterprets your test results and either doesn’t prescribe treatment or commences the wrong type of treatment,   you may be entitled to claim compensation. Please contact a member of our medical negligence team to find out how we can help.

Upon being diagnosed with kidney cancer you will typically be assigned a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals to coordinate your treatment and care. This will usually include a clinical oncologist, a pathologist, a specialist nurse, a radiologist, and a surgeon, amongst others.

The treatment plan for your kidney cancer will largely depend on the stage your cancer is at; how quickly it is progressing; how big the tumour is; where exactly the tumour is located; and your general state of health.

The type of treatment you will be offered may include:

• Surgery to remove part, or all, of the affected kidney
• Cryotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells with rapid freezing
• Radiofrequency ablation to destroy the cancer with rapid heating
• Biological therapies to stimulate the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer
• Embolisation to cut off the blood supply to the tumour
• Radiotherapy to destroy cancerous cells with high energy radiations
• Chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells with targeted medication

When kidney cancer is misdiagnosed as a different condition, it could potentially mean that the treatment prescribed to you may be more aggressive than would otherwise have been necessary due to the progression of the disease. Alternatively, the treatment may not have any effect on the disease, allowing it to progress. This may cause you to endure additional suffering, and it may have a negative impact on your overall prognosis, which will be taken into consideration when your compensation case is being reviewed.