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Our medical negligence solicitors are highly experienced in helping clients who have been injured by negligent cancer care recover compensation for their injuries. We have helped clients rebuild their lives after they have suffered significant worsening of their condition or where cancer care negligence has led to the loss of a loved one. 

What is cancer negligence?

When a patient has cancer, timely referral, tests and investigations and treatment can make the difference between a return to health and ongoing quality of life or radical treatment and, sometimes, death.

Suspected cancer recognition and referral guidelines set by NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) require healthcare professionals to recognise the importance of speed in referral, investigations and treatment in reducing injury to a patient who is suspected of having cancer.  

The NHS gives patients with signs of cancer the right to urgent referral and treatment as delays can:

  • increase the extent and severity of the condition;
  • allow the cancer to spread to other areas of the body (metastasis);
  • lead to the patient needing more radical treatment with greater side effects;
  • reduce the patient’s chance of survival;
  • increase the chances of recurrence;
  • increase ongoing pain and disability;
  • cause or increase psychological injury;
  • result in the patient’s death.

The worry and uncertainty of cancer makes it one of the toughest experiences that individuals and their families ever have to face. Where the patient’s condition and its consequences are made significantly worse by negligent medical treatment, the affected individual, or their bereaved dependant family, may be entitled to compensation.

Recent cancer negligence cases

£800,000 compensation for the bereaved partner and children of a 28-year-old woman who died  from ovarian cancer and its spread (metastasis) to other areas of her body, after years of negligent hospital failure to correctly diagnose and remove an ovarian cyst. After liability was admitted we secured an interim (advance) payment of £20,000 to ease the family’s financial hardship whilst we worked with our client and experts to value the claim.

£800,000 compensation for a client who developed cervical cancer after hospital and GP delays in reporting a smear test and referring her to a gynaecological specialist. She required intensive chemo-radiotherapy which left her with permanent, severe pain and psychological injury. We overcame the  defendants’ denial of liability and secured judgment for our client and a negotiated settlement.

£800,000 settlement for a woman who was given negligent advice (lack of informed consent) leading to inadequate treatment for CIN3 /severe dyskaryosis. She developed cervical cancer and suffered severe injury from her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, including ongoing pain, problems with bowel, bladder and sexual function, and psychological symptoms.  She asked us to help her make a claim after other solicitors had refused to take on her case. 

£700,000 compensation for our client after hospital failure to follow up abnormal smear and biopsy results led to cervical cancer. Correct treatment would have avoided cancer. Instead, she suffered an early caesarean section to deliver her baby, chemo-radiotherapy with severe side effects, and has ongoing pain, fatigue, infertility, premature menopause, urinary and bowel dysfunction and psychological injury.  We secured interim payments of £50,000 earlier in the case to pay for therapies and treatment and ease financial hardship.

£575,000 compensation for a client who suffered recurrent cervical cancer after a hospital’s  inadequate reporting of colposcopy histology samples led to a series of missed opportunities to investigate, diagnose and treat her cervical cancer. Our client was left with physical and psychological injuries as a result of the recurrence and its treatment with chemo-radiotherapy.

£250,000 compensation settlement for the bereaved family of a young woman whose cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment were negligently delayed when a GP failed to refer her for a follow-up smear test. Chemo-radiotherapy treatment was initially thought to be successful, but she suffered a recurrence of the cancer and, despite intensive treatment, died 12 months later.

£265,000 settlement in a fatal claim arising from delayed diagnosis and treatment of a young woman’s cervical cancer.

£122,000 compensation for a client who suffered an extravasation injury, causing pain, blistering and permanent weakness to her dominant arm,  during chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.

£750,000 compensation for a client who suffered cervical cancer needing radical chemo-radiotherapy after a biopsy and follow up smear test were incorrectly reported. She has been left with severe and debilitating bowel dysfunction, bladder problems, pain, nausea, premature menopause and a psychological injury, and is at increased risk of recurrence of the disease.

When can you sue a hospital or GP for cancer negligence?

Clinical negligence claims for cancer negligence often arise from:

  • misdiagnosis or delays in cancer diagnosis;
  • delays in referring the patient for further investigations or specialist care;
  • failure to carry out tests or investigations;
  • misinterpretation of test results, such as x-rays or scans;
  • delays in surgery or other treatment;
  • communication and follow-up errors, e.g. failing to recall a patient for treatment after an abnormal cervical smear.

Claims are often made for compensation for additional injuries and their consequences from negligent diagnosis, referral, treatment and follow-up of cancers, such as:

  • cervical cancer;
  • Ewing’s sarcoma/spinal cancer;
  • brain tumour;
  • breast cancer;
  • bowel/colorectal cancer;
  • spinal tumour;
  • lung cancer;
  • ovarian cancer;
  • uterine cancer (cancer of the womb);
  • mouth/oral cancer.

Cancer, even where correctly treated, can cause devastating injury to the sufferer. This type of injury cannot be compensated through a cancer negligence claim, as it was not caused by substandard medical care.

The patient is entitled to compensation, however, for additional serious injury which was caused by negligent medical treatment, or which would have been avoided if an acceptable standard of care had been given. The avoidable harm caused by cancer negligence can be devastating for the individual and their family.  This greatly increases the pain, loss of function, distress, fear and worry, and financial consequences of this life-threatening condition at what is already an extremely difficult time.

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Compensation for misdiagnosis of cancer/negligent medical care

We have recovered substantial sums in compensation for clients whose cancer was negligently treated, resulting in:

  • impaired bowel and bladder function, e.g. incontinence;
  • loss of fertility;
  • paralysis;
  • loss of vision;
  • brain damage and neurological disability;
  • reduced lifespan;
  • increased risk of recurrence;
  • psychiatric/psychological damage;
  • metastasis (spread of cancer to other parts of the body);
  • post-treatment complications, including:
    • radiotherapy injuries;
    • neutropenic sepsis (related to chemotherapy);
  • death.

Where the cancer negligence has resulted in ongoing disability, loss of function and other physical and psychological effects which have financial consequences, we can also help our clients recover compensation for their financial losses, such as:

  • necessary home adaptations, e.g. to improve bathroom accessibility;
  • cost of psychological counselling;
  • loss of earnings;
  • cost of household help or care;
  • costs and losses which follow the death of a family member and provider, such as:
    • funeral expenses;
    • bereavement payment (a statutory fixed payment);
    • loss of financial dependency and other care and support provided by a parent or other family member.
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Meet your specialist team

Our specialist Cancer negligence & misdiagnosis claims team are considered leaders in the field and have a significant amount of expertise.
Susan Brown photo

Susan Brown

Partner

Julie Marsh headshot

Julie Marsh

Partner

Richard Money-Kyrle headshot

Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

Sita Soni headshot

Sita Soni

Senior Associate - solicitor

Vanessa Wand photo

Vanessa Wand

Senior associate - solicitor

Tara Byrne photo

Tara Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

Rachel Makore headshot

Rachel Makore

Associate - solicitor

Alpa Rana headshot

Alpa Rana

Associate - solicitor

Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate solicitor

Ben Ireland headshot

Ben Ireland

Solicitor

Alice Carley headshot

Alice Carley

Paralegal

Audrey Elmore headshot

Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

Nicky Melville headshot

Nicky Melville

Professional support assistant

Susan Brown photo
Julie Marsh headshot
Richard Money-Kyrle headshot
Sita Soni headshot
Vanessa Wand photo
Tara Byrne photo
Rachel Makore headshot
Alpa Rana headshot
Fran Rothwell
Ben Ireland headshot
Alice Carley headshot
Audrey Elmore headshot
Nicky Melville headshot

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Cancer negligence cases

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Awards & Accreditations

Our teams have been nationally recognised over the past decade for their dedication and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients

              Brake | The Road Safety Charity

"Honest, approachable and truly empathetic"

What has to be some of the most testing horrible times was dealt with in a dignified, honest, approachable and truly empathetic manner. I could not begin to do Susan justice for her handling of our case.

Boyes Turner Client

"they kept us fully informed "

I approached Boyes Turner after my claim was turned down by one of the Medical Negligence Claim company. My wife was a victim of medical negligence.

Boyes Turner have acted so efficiently on our behalf and was able to win our case. Anytime we contact them, their customer service was very good as they kept us fully informed of every level our case has developed. They are very friendly and approachable and great in their professional advise. I would strongly recommend anyone approach them for their legal and medical negligence services.

Boyes Turner Client

"Thoroughly professional, knowledgable and approachable"

Thoroughly professional, knowledgable and approachable with communication and updates as and when needed, in what can be a drawn out process, I was always comfortable asking questions and always received answers which were clear and understandable. Highly recommend

Boyes Turner Client

"Amazing professional firm"

I came to Boyes Turner desperate after searching the web for a firm to use for my sons case. He was only a few months so my mind was all over the place, but from the very first point of contact I felt a sense of relieve and belonging. I was welcomed and looked after by amazing staff who always communicated everything so well and went the extra mile to explain things and ensure I understood what was happening every step of the way (THANK YOU SUSAN BROWN). Susan was amazing I felt like I not only had a solicitor but someone who understood my emotions as a mother and always handled me with so much compassion and that was all I needed to keep me going for the 6 years of the case. Years went by in a breeze because of how professional Boyes Turner was. I am so greatful I went through it all with them and mananged to get my son a good compensation. We look forward our new life where my sons needs are priority after struggling for so long. Thank you Boyes Turner and thank you Susan Brown. My family and I are ever indebted.

Boyes Turner Client

"I couldn’t fault them they have been brilliant throughout the whole process"

From the moment I picked up the phone and spoke to Richard Money-Kyrle I knew I had done the right thing by choosing Boyes Turner to take our claim forward and to represent my son. Both Richard Money-Kyrle and Alpa Rana have worked on our case and they both have been amazing throughout, explaining every step of the way and anything we didn’t understand and keeping me updated constantly. This gave me and my family a lot of reassurance.

Both Richard and Alpa are friendly and gained my trust and have been really easy to talk to which has made the process a whole lot easier and smoother than anticipated.
The outcome of the claim was far more than I could have wished for and that was down to their hard work and expertise

I couldn’t fault them they have been brilliant throughout the whole process I would recommend Boyes Turner to anyone.

Boyes Turner Client
Rated Excellent 4.8/5