Bladder Cancer – Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment
Was there a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of your bladder cancer? If so you could be entitled to take legal action against those responsible. Contact us for more information.
Stage and grade of tumour
When a tumour is detected, medical practitioners must classify it according to the grade and stage. With bladder cancer, the grade is usually Grade 1 to Grade 3 (G1-G3). The difference is based upon how severe the individual cells are and the speed of growth/metastases.
The stage is upon the 'TNM' classification. T stands for tumour, N stands for the amount of lymph nodes involved, and M stands for metastases (meaning secondary tumours). So a TNM staging defines how large the primary tumour is and how far it has spread.
Invasive bladder cancer
When a bladder tumour is staged at T2 or greater, it means the patient has invasive bladder cancer. At this stage the tumour will progress and metastasize. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment can halt the progression, although major surgery may be required to remove the tumours.
If the patient has progressed to T4, surgery may be radical as the cancer will have spread to other structures such as the prostate, uterus, vagina and rectum.
Diagnosing bladder cancer early
Because bladder cancer is much harder to treat once it has spread, it is best that the tumour is detected and treated in the early stages. This is true of all cancers, and a patient stands a much better chance of recovery if an early diagnosis is made.
However, a successful diagnosis is dependent upon a number of medical practitioners providing a reasonable standard of care. This usually begins with a GP, who must recognise the patient's symptoms as being suggestive of bladder cancer and make an urgent referral.
Next a patient must receive a hospital appointment, normally within a two week time frame. The necessary diagnostic tests should be carried out and analysed by a specialist. The results should then be conveyed to the patient and the patient's GP as soon as possible.
If something suspicious is detected, further tests and treatment must be performed without delay.
Bladder cancer medical negligence
If there are mistakes or delays at any point during a bladder cancer diagnosis, it can radically alter a patient's prognosis. This can lead to a medical negligence compensation claim. A claim might arise because of:
- A GP fails to refer
- A specialist fail to diagnose the tumour
- Doctors fail to monitor and re-test a patient whose symptoms persist
If you or your loved one experienced delays in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer, please get in touch with us to discuss a compensation claim.
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To find out more about making a medical negligence claim, please get in touch with our team today. We will advise whether or not you are eligible to pursue a claim for compensation. If so, we can help you get the financial redress you deserve.
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