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Laryngeal Cancer Negligence Solicitors & Throat Cancer Misdiagnosis Compensation Claims.
Finding out that you have throat cancer can have a huge impact on you and your family.
The treatment for throat cancer typically requires patients to take extended periods of time off work, and can therefore have a financial impact on you and your loved ones. If it later transpires that the negligent actions of a medical professional caused a delay in your diagnosis and subsequent treatment, and your condition worsened as a result, the news can be all the more devastating.
Throat cancer -also known as laryngeal cancer – affects the larynx, which is also called the voice box. When this type of cancer is detected and treated early enough, the prognosis can often be good. However, when treatment is unnecessarily delayed it can allow the cancer to progress and spread, which can then mean that the available treatment options are more intensive and invasive. Sadly, in some cases, the cancer may even progress and become treatable.
Medical professionals owe a duty of care to their patients, and a breach in that duty of care can potentially cause undue harm to the patient. If you have received negligent care whilst being treated for throat cancer, and it has led to your condition worsening, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
At Lanyon Bowdler, we have helped many people in the same situation to seek justice and financial compensation after negligent throat cancer treatment. We understand that no amount of money can make up for the suffering you or your loved one have endured, but we aim to ensure that you receive the full amount of compensation under the law that you are entitled to.
To find out more about how our specialist team of medical negligence solicitors can help you understand your legal rights, please contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation.
How can Throat Cancer be Misdiagnosed?
When throat cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, the overall prognosis is typically very good for most patients. If the tumour is small and localised it can be treated effectively with radiotherapy or an endoscopic resection, and many patients will go on to make a full recovery. Most cases of laryngeal cancer are detected early because the symptoms are usually clear and noticeable, and treatment therefore gets underway quickly.
However, in some cases, the cancer may be misdiagnosed in the first instance, leading to a delay in appropriate treatment being administered and allowing the cancer to progress and spread. All medical professionals that you encounter owe you a duty of care to ensure that they provide you with a reasonable level of care, and any breach in their duty of care could constitute medical negligence.
There are a number of ways in which medical negligence can lead to a misdiagnosis of throat cancer, and a worsening of your symptoms, including:
- Your GP fails to identify symptoms of throat cancer
- Your GP fails to refer you to an ENT specialist for further investigation
- The specialist fails to carry out the appropriate diagnostic tests
- Your test results are misread or misinterpreted
- Your test results are lost or not recorded accurately
- You are given somebody else’s test results
- You are prescribed the wrong course of treatment
This list is by no means exhaustive, and if you have experienced any kind of negligent treatment from a medical professional that has led to a worsening of your condition, you may be entitled to claim compensation. At Lanyon Bowdler, we understand that no amount of money can make up for the suffering you have endured, however it can help you to access private treatments and therapies to aid your recovery back to health, as well as easing the financial strain that many people experience after a cancer diagnosis.
Our Laryngeal Cancer Negligence Claims Expertise
Lanyon Bowdler is a specialist firm of Medical Negligence Solicitors with years of experience supporting clients in cancer negligence claims, including those involving brain cancer misdiagnosis. Our expertise in this field is recognised by national organisations, peers, and clients across the UK.
The Medical Negligence Team is recognised in Tier One for the West Midlands in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500, which states ‘The ‘approachable and collaborative individuals’ at Lanyon Bowdler are praised for the ‘time given to the client to offer reassurance and explanations. It has a vast array of experience in cases involving catastrophic injuries (including birth, brain and spinal injuries, amputations and fatal claims)’.
Chambers UK 2024 rank the department in Band One for the Midlands and states ‘an impressive practice group with a growing presence across the West Midlands. The team offers specialist advice across the full gamut of clinical negligence mandates, with particular experience in cases of surgical error, delayed diagnosis and failure to supervise those at risk of suicide. The firm is additionally skilled in cases relating to post-surgical negligence, brain injury and fatal claims.’
Listen here to Beth Heath and a former colleague from the Clinical Negligence team talk about the delay in diagnosis of Cancer, using fictitious, but typical cases to illustrate the challenges people are facing.
Your Larynx Cancer Compensation questions answered
Throat, or laryngeal, cancer is a type of cancer that forms within the tissues that make up the hollow tube inside the neck, which runs from behind the nose to the top of the oesophagus and windpipe (trachea). Throat cancer can affect the tonsils, the larynx, and the pharynx, which itself is divided into sections including the nasopharynx (the upper throat behind the nose); the oropharynx (the middle section of the pharynx); and the hypopharynx (the bottom section).
The main types of throat cancer are:
- Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the most common type of throat cancer, it begins in the flat cells that line the inside of the throat.
- Adenocarcinoma: This type of throat cancer begins in the mucus-producing glands of the throat.
- Lymphoma: This type of cancer begins in the white blood cells of the lymphatic system.
- Sarcoma: This type of cancer begins in the bones, muscles, or connective tissues of the throat.
Laryngeal cancer can present with a variety of different symptoms, and may appear differently from one person to the next. Some of the most common signs of throat cancer to look out for include the following:
- Persistent cough
- Hoarse voice
- Pain or difficulty when swallowing
- Swelling or a lump in the neck
- Persistent sore throat
- Persistent earache
- Pain in the neck
- Coughing up blood
- High pitched wheezing
- Breathing difficulties
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling very fatigued
If you experience any of these symptoms, or any other symptoms that give you cause for concern, it is recommended you seek medical advice as soon as possible. When throat cancer is detected early there is a higher chance of survival, so any delay in diagnosis can impact your overall prognosis.
It is not clear exactly what causes throat cancer, however there are a number of different factors that may increase the likelihood of a person developing the disease. Some of the risk factors for laryngeal cancer include:
- Smoking tobacco
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Eating a diet lacking in fruit and vegetables
- Family history of throat or neck cancer
- Contracting human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Exposure to substances like asbestos and coal dust
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of developing throat cancer is to adopt a healthy lifestyle, ensuring you eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, and lean proteins, as well as avoiding cigarettes and alcohol.
If you have developed laryngeal cancer after exposure to asbestos, coal dust, or toxic chemicals, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Please don’t hesitate to contact our team of experienced solicitors to find out more information..
If you have any of the symptoms of laryngeal cancer, the first step is to see your GP who will carry out an examination before referring you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. At your appointment with the specialist, they should carry out a variety of tests, including:
- Nasendoscopy – A procedure where a small camera is inserted into the nose to examine the nasal tube, throat, and larynx.
- Laryngoscopy – A procedure where a small camera is passed down the throat via the mouth in order to examine the larynx.
- Biopsy – A small tissue sample is taken and examined under a microscope.
- Scans – If the results of the biopsy and endoscopies indicate cancer, an ultrasound, MRI, CT, or PET-CT scan may be used to determine the exact size and location of the cancer and if it has spread.
The treatment for laryngeal cancer will usually be administered by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) made up of oncologists, surgeons, specialist nurses, radiographers, radiologists, and pathologists. The MDT will work together to prescribe the best course of treatment for your throat cancer, as well as providing ongoing care and rehabilitative support.
The main types of treatment that are typically offered to laryngeal cancer patients include:
- Radiotherapy – Controlled doses of radiation are used to target and destroy the cancerous cells. Patients will usually have a mould of their face taken so that a plastic mask can be made, allowing the head to be held in place so that the exact location can be targeted.
- Chemotherapy – Powerful cancer-killing medicines damage the DNA of cancerous cells in order to prevent them from reproducing. Chemotherapy can be used alongside radiotherapy and surgery to reduce the size of the tumour and increase the effectiveness of other treatments.
- Surgery – There are three different types of surgery for throat cancer: endoscopic resection, partial laryngectomy, and total laryngectomy. Endoscopic resection is more effective at treating early stage throat cancer, whilst more advanced cancers may require more invasive surgery to remove part or all of the larynx.
In cases where the patient has had to undergo a total laryngectomy, they are no longer able to breathe or speak normally, and will require a permanent stoma in the neck to allow them to breathe. They may additionally require specialist treatment to try and restore their voice, or have to rely on an electronic voice box for the rest of their life. If your laryngeal cancer was misdiagnosed, which led to your condition progressing to the point where you needed a total laryngectomy, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Our specialist medical negligence team are on hand to help you and discuss your options.
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Contact our Laryngeal Cancer Negligence Solicitors
Lanyon Bowdler’s team of medical negligence lawyers have extensive experience in helping claimants secure compensation for cases involving throat cancer and laryngeal cancer misdiagnosis or negligence.
These conditions are profoundly distressing, significantly impacting both patients and their families. When medical professionals or establishments fail to diagnose or delay treatment, the emotional and physical toll can be even more overwhelming.
Our specialist cancer negligence solicitors are here to help you seek justice and obtain the compensation you deserve.
Lanyon Bowdler’s commitment to excellent client service and communication is consistently recognised by leading legal directories such as The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.
We are a Law Firm in Wales, who has offices located in in Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Ludlow, Hereford, Bromyard and Conwy, so are able to act for clients all over Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales and across the Midlands (including Wolverhampton & Birmingham).
No matter where you live in England or Wales, our expert team is here to support your diabetes compensation claim.
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