Bowel Cancer Diagnosis Delays
Next month - April 2018 - is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. As the UK's second biggest cause of death due to cancer, tackling this dreadful disease should be a priority. Urgent diagnosis is the key to survival.
Cancer diagnosis delays
Research carried out in 2017, and reported in the Daily Mail, found that, despite government targets for patients suspected of having cancer to be seen by a specialist within 14 days, over 100,000 patients had to wait beyond this time before they had their symptoms investigated.
Bowel cancer diagnosis delays
A delay in diagnosing bowel cancer can put the patient at significant risk:
- The success of surgery is likely to be reduced, the functioning of the bowel may be permanently compromised and the patient may require a permanent colostomy, impacting on their everyday lives.
- It is less likely that the patient will remain free of cancer
- The cancer will have had a greater opportunity to spread, threatening other parts of the body
- The patient is more likely to die
Diagnosing bowel cancer
Bowel cancer is fairly common in both men and women with approximately 40,000 people believed to develop it each year and about 16,000 people die from it each year.
The following symptoms might indicate that the patient is developing bowel cancer and should prompt the medical practitioner to make an urgent referral for further testing.
- Blood in the patient's poo when they go to the toilet
- Changes in bowel habit and function
- Loss of weight
- Extreme tiredness
If a patient presents with these symptoms, the GP may carry out some tests such as an examination of the abdomen and/or back passage, as well as taking a blood test.
The patient may also be referred to a specialist at hospital to undergo an internal examination such as a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy to assess the condition of the bowel.
A delay in making such a referral can mean that the patient has a significantly worse long-term outcome.
New Developments in Diagnosis
Bowel Screening
The NHS currently offers a bowel screening programme to the over-55s in order to try to identify those who are in the early stages of the disease. Although people under 55 can develop bowel cancer, it is most common in the older age group.
However, the NHS is being criticised for failing to adopt new tests which could assist in the effective, accurate and prompt diagnosis of bowel cancer:
Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
Despite a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee, this new simple and accurate diagnostic test has not yet been approved by the government for use in the screening programme according to Bowel Cancer UK.
Lynch Syndrome Test
The government is also being encouraged to introduce a Lynch syndrome test for people with bowel cancer and their families to clarify the best course of treatment for the patient as well as assessing their relatives for the disease.
People with the Lynch syndrome - a genetic condition - have a significantly increased chance of developing bowel cancer. If a patient who already has bowel cancer is tested and found to carry this specific gene, testing their family members may help to identify bowel cancer in others at an early stage.
This can save lives, reduce the severity of treatment and save the NHS money.
Medical Negligence
Where symptoms of bowel cancer are missed by a medical professional, thereby resulting in a delayed diagnosis and a significantly worse outcome for the patient, it may be appropriate to consider making a claim for compensation.
If this has been your experience - or that of a loved one - contact Glynns Solicitors to discuss your situation with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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