Ovarian Cancer Negligence Compensation Lawyers.

Some of the key symptoms to look out for include:

• Irregular periods if still menstruating
• Vaginal bleeding post menopause
• Pain during intercourse
• Pelvic pain and discomfort
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Persistent abdominal bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Frequent urination
• Back pain
• General fatigue

Many of these symptoms alone can appear quite vague and non-specific or can be indicative of a variety of different conditions such as appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or menopause/perimenopause. It is this reason that leads to many cases of ovarian cancer being misdiagnosed in the first instance, causing treatment to be delayed.

When you present to your GP with any of the symptoms listed above they have a certain protocol to follow. They should carry out an examination of your abdominal area, and may carry out an internal examination, as well as discussing your family medical history and identifying any risk factors for ovarian cancer.

If your GP suspects ovarian cancer they should request a blood test to check for the presence of CA125 which is a substance emitted by ovarian cancer cells. After the blood test, you may then be referred to a specialist for further testing, including an ultrasound scan which can be performed either abdominally or transvaginally. If the ultrasound detects any anomalies, it will usually be followed up with a CT scan, X-ray, biopsy or laparoscopy, in order to determine the presence of ovarian cancer as well as its stage.

Due to the location of ovarian cancer and its ability to spread rapidly throughout the body, treatment plans are often quite aggressive. A full hysterectomy may be performed, whereby the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are removed completely in order to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

After the surgery, a course of chemotherapy may also be prescribed in order to destroy any remaining cancerous cells.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, radiotherapy or targeted therapies may be used to shrink or cure the cancer, depending on how advanced it is.

In order to make a compensation claim for ovarian cancer misdiagnosis you need to be able to show that the medical professional(s) owed you a duty of care, and that a breach in that duty of care occurred, leading to a worsening of your condition.

The time limit for bringing about a medical negligence claim for ovarian cancer misdiagnosis is three years from the time that the negligence occurred, or from the time at which you first became aware of the negligence. It is highly recommended you speak to a solicitor as soon as possible once you feel able to.

You can claim on behalf of yourself, or on behalf of a loved one if they are unable to make the claim themselves due to age restrictions, a lack of mental capacity, or they are sadly deceased.

The type of negligent treatment that may lead to an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis claim could include the following:

• Your cancer was misdiagnosed as a different condition
• Your GP failed to carry out appropriate initial testing
• Your GP failed to refer you to a specialist for further testing
• Your test results were misinterpreted
• Your test results were misread
• Your ultrasound or CT scan was performed incorrectly
• Your doctor didn’t prescribe the appropriate course of treatment

This list is not exhaustive, and if you or a loved one have received any kind of negligent care which has caused your ovarian cancer to progress unduly then you may be entitled to claim compensation. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly and experienced medical negligence solicitors today, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about your potential claim.

Making a claim for compensation after suffering ovarian cancer negligence can help you in a number of ways. The money that you will be awarded can help to make up for your loss of earnings after taking time off work, as well as covering any forecasted future loss of earnings if you are unable to return to work temporarily or permanently due to the deterioration of your condition.

In addition to this, our medical negligence team can offer a variety of support to you and your family. We can help you obtain interim payments to allow you to access different treatments and therapies, which you may not have been aware of, and aid you in your rehabilitation as health journey progresses.

As well as the financial aspect of your claim, we can also help you to seek justice, and hold the right people accountable for what happened to you. Of course, it won’t change things for you, but it can help to prevent the same mistakes from happening to anyone else in the future.