Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis & Delayed Diagnosis Claims Solicitors

The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis and is part of the male reproductive system. About the size of a walnut, it is located underneath the bladder, surrounding the urethra, and is responsible for producing semen. Some of the most common prostate problems that can occur include prostatitis, enlarged prostate, and prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer typically develops as a result of the cells in the prostate growing in an uncontrolled way, and these malignant cells may then form a tumour.

There are 4 stages of prostate cancer:

• Stage 1 – the cancer occupies one side or less of the prostate and is completely contained within the prostate gland. Survival rate is almost 100% at this stage.
• Stage 2 – the cancer occupies more than half of the prostate but it is still fully contained within the prostate gland. Survival rate is almost 100%.
• Stage 3 – the cancer has broken out of the prostate gland and may have spread locally into the seminal vesicles. Survival rate is around 95%.
• Stage 4 – this could mean the cancer has spread into nearby organs, nearby lymph nodes, or organs outside of the pelvic region such as the lungs or liver. Survival rate is around 50% at this stage.

In most cases, prostate cancer develops slowly to begin with, and may not present with symptoms for a while. However, in some cases, it can be aggressive, developing quickly and spreading to other parts of the body. Unfortunately, unlike some cancers, there is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK, despite the fact that it is now the third most common cause of death by cancer, overtaking breast cancer.

In around a third of all individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer, the cancer is already advanced. This is because prostate cancer does not usually cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra.

Typically, there are no outwardly visible symptoms so it is difficult to spot the signs of prostate cancer in a loved one. However, the key signs that men should look out for include:

• Needing to urinate more frequently
• Having a sudden urge to urinate
• Having difficulty passing urine
• Slow urine flow
• Waking in the night to urinate
• Blood in the urine
• Pain during urination
• Erectile dysfunction
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain in the lower back
• Lethargy and fatigue

Of course, these symptoms can also be indicative of a variety of other health problems too and may not always point to cancer. However, it is always best to see your GP if you notice any differences in urination, or experience any pain or bleeding when passing urine in order to either rule out cancer or intervene early enough to treat it effectively.

If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, the first step is to make an appointment to see your GP. If they suspect prostate cancer, there are a number of initial tests they will carry out including:

• Digital rectal examination (DRE) – a physical examination carried out by inserting a finger into the anus to feel the prostate through the rectal wall.
• Urine test – your GP will request a sample of your urine in order to rule out an infection.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) – your GP will order a blood test to check your prostate protein level.

If any of these tests indicate that there is a likelihood of prostate cancer, your GP will then refer you to a specialist for further testing. At your hospital appointment you will most likely be seen by an oncologist who will carry out some or all of the following tests:

• Another PSA test
• Another DRE
• A prostate biopsy
• A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• A computerised tomography (CT) scan
• An ultrasound scan
• A bone scan
• A urine flow test

There is no single test to check for prostate cancer with 100% accuracy. Instead, doctors must use a combination of tests to assess the presence of cancer in the prostate, taking care at every stage on the journey to diagnosis. Of course, this can leave room for potential misdiagnosis or the cancer being missed completely, which then leads to delayed or missed treatment, and a worsening of the condition.

If you went to your GP with any of the symptoms of prostate cancer and they failed to carry out the appropriate tests, and your condition did indeed turn out to be cancer, you may be able to make a claim for medical negligence compensation. Our experienced and empathetic clinical negligence team can answer any questions you may have and offer advice on your individual situation.

The treatment for prostate cancer will usually depend on the severity and type of tumour, plus the demographics of the patient also need to be taken into account. Some of the most commonly used methods include:

• Radiotherapy – this uses radiation to kill the cancer cells.
• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) – cancer cells are destroyed by heating them with ultrasound waves (presently this is not widely available as it is still going through clinical trials).
• Radical prostatectomy – the entire prostate is surgically removed.
• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) – the symptoms are relieved surgically.
• Hormone therapy – this can help to slow the growth of the tumour and manage any associated symptoms.
• Long-term monitoring – prostate cancer typically develops slowly so treatment may not be immediately necessary, depending on symptoms.
• Brachytherapy – a type of radiotherapy which is administered within the prostate gland.
• Cryotherapy – this is a method of killing cancer through rapid freezing, and is normally used to treat localised prostate cancer.
• Chemotherapy – powerful medication destroys cancerous cells, this is more a way of keeping the cancer in check than a cure.

Once you receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer, treatment will usually begin right away, depending on the severity of the condition. The earlier treatment is received, the better the long term prognosis will typically be.

However, in some cases the cancer diagnosis may be accurate, but the treatment given may be wrong and may lead to further complications for the patient.

Some examples of negligent cancer treatment include:

• Excessive or poorly administered radiotherapy which causes damage to healthy tissue.
• Surgical negligence whereby too little of the tumour is removed, or too much of a healthy organ is affected.
• A delay in providing treatment which allows the cancer more opportunity to spread.
• Failure to identify how advanced the cancer is, therefore providing an inadequate level of treatment.
• Your hospital appointments were repeatedly cancelled and rearranged, thus allowing more time to elapse between check-ups.

If your treatment and diagnosis were negligent in any way, for example if you were told that you had stage 1 prostate cancer but it was actually more advanced and you have had to undergo much more extensive treatment than you were initially prepared for, you may be able to claim compensation for clinical negligence. Speak to us today and our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Prostate cancer typically progresses slowly, however, a delay in treatment can still affect the chances of the patient making a full recovery. The danger of misdiagnosis of prostate cancer, even in stage 1 or 2, is that the symptoms, such as urination problems, can remain unchanged until the cancer progresses to stage three or four.

If the patient receives a misdiagnosis of prostatitis, which presents with the same symptoms as prostate cancer and typically resolves itself within a few months, they may continue to tolerate their symptoms, believing them to be trivial, and completely unaware that there is a more serious problem. This may mean the patient delays seeking medical assistance, meanwhile the cancer is able to metastasise and spread beyond the prostate.