Pancreatic Cancer Misdiagnosis Compensation Claims Solicitors.

It can sometimes take a while for the symptoms of pancreatic cancer to become apparent, whilst many of the symptoms can also be indicative of other conditions and ailments which are less serious, which may lead to patients enduring the symptoms for longer than they should before consulting their GP.

The main symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

• Jaundice
• Darker urine than normal
• Paler stools than normal
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Itchy skin
• Indigestion and heartburn
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Back pain
• Diabetes

Some of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be a bit vague at first, but any changes to your usual digestive habits and functions always warrant a visit to your GP so that they can carry out tests and refer you to a specialist for further investigation.

If your GP has failed to examine you or has not referred you to a specialist, causing a delay in your diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Please don’t hesitate to contact our team of medical negligence solicitors to find out how we can help you.

There is no definitive way to predict who will develop pancreatic cancer, although there are a number of factors that may increase the risk of developing the disease, including:

• Being aged between 50 and 80 years old
• Consuming a consistently unhealthy diet
• Being significantly overweight / obese
• Regular use of cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco
• A history of associated medical conditions such as diabetes, stomach ulcers, chronic pancreatitis, and helicobacter pylori infection

Those who fall into any of these high risk categories may not necessarily develop pancreatic cancer, but if you develop symptoms and any of the above factors apply to you, your GP should be extra vigilant when it comes to checking for cancer. Failure to refer a high risk patient to a specialist when they present with symptoms can constitute medical negligence, and you may be entitled to claim compensation.

The symptoms of pancreas cancer can often be quite vague and can be easily mistaken for other conditions in the absence of proper specialist investigative care. Pancreatic cancer symptoms are typically not detectable until the cancer has progressed and spread further than the pancreas, so prompt diagnosis and treatment is vital. Any delay in diagnosing pancreatic cancer may have devastating consequences for the patient, potentially leading to more invasive and intensive treatment being required, and in some cases even rendering the cancer untreatable.

Some of the conditions that present with similar symptoms to pancreatic cancer include:

• Gallstones and biliary colic
• Biliary stricture
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic ulcer
• Coeliac disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Intestinal infection/inflammation
• Acid reflux and heartburn
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Cystic neoplasm

Patients with pancreatic cancer stand the best chance of recovery when the condition is diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Any delay in diagnosis can lead to the cancer progressing to a later stage and spreading to other parts of the body, making it more difficult to treat effectively.

Left untreated, the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can worsen, and additional symptoms may begin to emerge, including:

• The onset of diabetes
• Unexplained vomiting
• Unexplained blood clots
• Unexplained weight loss
• Prolonged itchiness
• Pain in the stomach, back, and sides
• Changes in bowel habits
• Prolonged fever or shivering
• Prolonged indigestion
• The onset of jaundice

The longer the cancer is left untreated, the more invasive the treatment options may become. For example, depending on the size and type of pancreatic cancer and its location, in the early stages it may be possible to treat pancreatic cancer with a course of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, as the cancer progresses, it may be  necessary to  endure a longer, more intense, course of chemotherapy, which can have side effects including fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, or to carry out major surgery to remove the pancreas altogether.

In some cases, the misdiagnosis of pancreatic cancer can lead to the condition spreading to other parts of the body so much that it becomes untreatable and the patient is prescribed palliative care until they reach end of life.

If you have experienced the negative effects of a pancreatic cancer misdiagnosis, or have sadly lost a loved one due to medical negligence, we can help you to seek justice and compensation. Please get in touch with our medical negligence solicitors to find out how we can help you.