What is a bowel cancer claim?

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK, and includes any cancer found in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. Over 42,000 cases are diagnosed every year and, if it is caught early, there is a good chance of making a full recovery.

This means it’s vital to receive the right care and treatment from the get go – and where mistakes happen, the consequences can be severe.

Claiming compensation can’t change your diagnosis or undo the emotional trauma you and your loved ones have experienced, but it can provide support throughout your recovery. At Slater and Gordon, our medical negligence team are experts in handling bowel cancer claims and are on hand to provide advice and guidance when you need it most.

How is bowel cancer diagnosed?

Currently in the UK, bowel cancer screening is offered to everyone between the ages of 60 and 74, and the NHS is part way through a programme of rolling this out to those aged 50 to 59.

Screening involves an at-home test kit, called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), which is used to collect a small sample of faeces to be sent to a lab for testing. If the test reveals anything suspicious, you may be invited to go to the hospital for further tests.

Whatever your age, if you experience any symptoms of bowel cancer, you should seek medical advice, particularly if you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or more. They include:

• Changes in your faeces, including diarrhoea or constipation that is unusual for you
• Needing to go more or less frequently that normal
• Blood in your faeces
• Bleeding from your bottom
• Feeling like you need to go, even if you’ve just been
• Stomach pain
• A lump on your stomach
• Bloating
• Losing weight without trying or with no immediate cause
• Feeling very tired for no reason

Bowel cancer is usually diagnosed following tests such as an x-ray, a CT scan and a biopsy. A camera may also be inserted through the rectum. If cancer is discovered, it can be treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Occasionally, surgery or a colonoscopy may be undertaken to remove the cancerous growth.

What are the most common causes of delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosed bowel cancer?

In the majority, medical professionals provide patients with a high standard of care. However, there are occasions when mistakes do happen which cause delays which can be life-threatening. The most common causes of delays are:

• Failure to recognise symptoms, such as pain and passing blood
• Failure to carry out adequate examinations or tests
• Failure to advise a patient to return if their symptoms persist or worsen
• Mistakes by pathologists who examine the tissue under a microscope
• Mistakes by radiologists who interpret x-rays and scans

Can I make a bowel cancer claim?

We understand how difficult it can be to receive a cancer diagnosis, and no one should then have to deal with the consequences of negligent treatment and misdiagnosis. No amount of compensation can fix what has been done, but making a claim can help to support you and your family through your recovery and treatment.

To make a cervical cancer claim, you need to be able to prove that there has been a breach in the duty of care owed to you by the medical professionals responsible for your care, and that this breach caused a negative impact on your treatment and prognosis.

If you think that a medical professional failed to fulfil their responsibilities, and their failure caused you unnecessary harm, contact us now and we'll be able to advise you on how we can gather evidence for your medical negligence claim.

What will happen when I make a bowel cancer claim?

We understand that making a pancreatic cancer claim can be daunting, particularly if you’re still recovering or receiving treatment for your condition. We’ll take it step-by-step, at a pace you are comfortable with, and explain what each stage will involve throughout the process.

Our friendly, empathetic team members are on hand to guide and support you, and will make every effort to ensure the process is as simple and as stress-free as possible. We’ll start by sitting down with you to discuss your personal circumstances and the care you received, and let you know whether we think you have a case to pursue. From there, we’ll investigate your medical records, alongside our in-house nurses and medical experts, to identify any instances of negligent treatment, and the impact that this has had. We’ll also organise independent medical examinations for you to provide an independent medical assessment and prognosis.

Early on in the process, we’ll reach out to those responsible for your treatment to establish liability, which can help us to secure interim payments to support your treatment and care. Throughout your case, our industry-leading experts will pursue your claim and aim to settle negotiations quickly, securing the compensation you deserve without the hassle. We’ll keep you informed at every step of the way, so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.

Why should I choose Slater and Gordon?

Our misdiagnosed cancer team are one of the best in the country and are highly ranked in independent legal guides such as Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

The team are highly experienced in dealing with misdiagnosed cancer claims can provide you with the best possible service, not only ensuring that you get the best outcome to your case, but that you get the treatment and additional support you need to assist with your recovery. We’re committed to providing the best support from day one, which is way we also offer home and hospital visits to allow us to provide immediate representation and rehabilitation support; allowing you to focus on recovery while we handle your claim.

Visit our medical negligence FAQs or our medical negligence claims guide for further information on how to make a claim.