Lung Cancer Solicitors for Misdiagnosis of Lung Cancer.

There are several different types of lung cancer, classified into two main groups: small cell lung cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer accounts for around one in 10 cases; it spreads early on and is most often treated by chemotherapy. There are three types of non-small cell lung cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (the most common type), adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.

The symptoms for each type of lung cancer are the same, and may include:

• A persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Coughing up sputum laced with blood
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Pain and aching when coughing or breathing
• Frequent respiratory infections
• A change in the voice

Some of the symptoms of lung cancer can also be indicative of other, less serious conditions, but it is always worth seeing your doctor as soon as possible if you are concerned.

In the majority of cases, lung cancer is diagnosed when a patient presents to their GP with symptoms and is referred for further testing. However, around one third of lung cancer cases are diagnosed when the patient attends A&E as an emergency, for example with breathing difficulties.

When you visit your GP with symptoms of lung cancer, there are a number of checks they should make, including:

• A physical examination to check for swollen lymph nodes, abnormal sounds on the lungs, laboured breathing, or an abnormal mass present in the abdominal area.
• A test to gauge the efficiency of your lungs using a spirometer.
• Blood tests to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.

If your GP has carried out the above checks and suspects you have lung cancer, they will then refer you to a specialist for further testing, which will include:

• An X-ray of the chest to check for malignant tumours
• A CT or PET-CT scan of the chest
• Sputum cytology where phlegm samples are tested
• A chest ultrasound
• A bronchoscopy
• A biopsy

If these initial tests show that you do have lung cancer, further tests will then be required to establish the type of cancer you have and to assess the stage at which the cancer is at present. From here, your medical team should then determine the best course of treatment.

The treatment plan you will be offered will depend on the type of lung cancer you have, plus the stage the cancer is at, but it will typically include the following types of treatment:

• Surgery – There are three  different types of surgery: lobectomy in which one or more parts of the lung are removed, pneumonectomy whereby the entire lung is removed, and segmentectomy where a small section of the lung is removed.
• Radiotherapy – Pulses of radiation are used to destroy cancer cells or to control the pain and symptoms in a palliative way when a cure is not possible.
• Chemotherapy – A powerful cancer-killing medicine is administered intravenously and can be given before surgery to reduce the size of the tumour, after surgery to prevent the cancer returning, or in a palliative way when the cancer cannot be cured.
• Immunotherapy – A group of different medicines are administered intravenously to stimulate the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.

These are the main remedies most often prescribed for the treatment of lung cancer, but there are also some alternative treatments that doctors may use, such as radiofrequency ablation, cryotherapy, and photodynamic therapy.

If you have received delayed or negligent treatment for lung cancer which has led to your condition worsening, or if you have sadly lost a loved, we can help you to obtain the compensation you deserve. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly and expert medical negligence team to find out more.

Lung cancer misdiagnosis can occur when mistakes are made which lead to delays in a diagnosis being received, and subsequently delays in treatment being started. Some of the most common reasons for a lung cancer misdiagnosis include:

• A GP fails to recognise the symptoms of lung cancer
• A GP fails to refer the patient to a specialist when they have presented with lung cancer symptoms
• The specialist fails to carry out the appropriate testing
• Test results are not reported accurately
• Test results are not read and interpreted accurately
• An abnormal test result is not followed up in the correct way
• The patient’s medical history is not recorded accurately
• The appropriate treatment is not arranged for a patient after diagnosis of lung cancer
• The test results are misinterpreted, and the patient is told they have cancer when in fact they do not
• Doctors fail to notice that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body

In order for your compensation claim to be successful, we must be able to prove that a medical error occurred, and that this error then caused you harm. If you have experienced any type of medical negligence during your lung cancer diagnosis and/or treatment, please get in touch to find out how we can help you.

When lung cancer is misdiagnosed, it can have severe, and even life-changing, repercussions for the patient and their family. The survival rate for lung cancer is much higher for patients who are diagnosed early, so a delay in diagnosis can lead to a lowered chance of survival for the individual.

Lung cancer shares some symptoms with other conditions that are typically less severe than cancer, and sometimes it can initially be misdiagnosed as one of the following illnesses:

• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Acid reflux
• Tuberculosis
• Lung nodules
• Lymphoma
• Lung abscesses
• Pulmonary embolism
• Encysted lung effusion
• Thoracic Hodgkin’s disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

When lung cancer is detected at Stage 1, the survival rate is around 55% on average. This figure drops to 35% for diagnosis at Stage 2, 15% at Stage 3, and just 5% at Stage 4. Figures reported by Cancer Research UK state that approximately four in 10 cancer patients are misdiagnosed at least once before the correct diagnosis is given.

If your lung cancer was misdiagnosed in the first instance, leading to a delay in treatment which then affected the prognosis, you may be able to claim compensation. Our expert medical negligence solicitors can offer advice and guidance as you navigate your claim, so please don’t hesitate to contact us today.