Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in the UK and affects tens of thousands of people each year. If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of mistakes made during diagnosis or treatment, our specialist legal experts can help get the compensation you deserve.
We’re here to support you throughout your lymphoma cancer claim
Lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer in the UK and affects thousands of people every year. Receiving a diagnosis of lymphoma can be deeply emotional for you and your loved ones, and it can leave you worrying about the future.
The last thing anyone should have to deal with is the knowledge that negligent treatment or missed opportunities at diagnosing the condition earlier have led to their condition worsening. If you, or someone you love, has suffered avoidable harm as a result of lymphoma misdiagnosis or negligent treatment, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
What constitutes a delay in diagnosis or lymphoma misdiagnosis?
When there are mistake in treating or diagnosing lymphoma cancer, the effects can be devastating. If a medical professional fails to treat you correctly, it can cause significant delays and the cancer can grow or spread. If this is the case, you may be entitled to claim compensation due to medical negligence.
The quicker you’re diagnosed, the quicker you can begin treatment and the greater the chances of success of that treatment. However, mistakes can sometimes be made which cause delays and can lead to catastrophic outcomes. Mistakes include:
Not recognising the symptoms of lymphoma, such as weight loss, tiredness, night sweats, fever and itching
Failure to carry out adequate examinations and tests
Mistakes by medical professionals who interpret test results
Failure to advise a patient to return if their symptoms worsen
If you believe your lymphoma cancer has been made worse as a result of mistakes that were made by medical professionals, contact one of our lymphoma solicitors for expert advice.
How is lymphoma cancer diagnosed?
Lymphoma is a term used to describe a cancer that originates in the body’s lymph system. There are two main types of lymphoma; Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, the initial symptoms of lymphoma are typically the same for both types:
Painless swelling in a lymph node (in the neck, armpit or groin)
Excessive sweating, particularly at night
High temperatures with no obvious cause, often at night
Losing weight over a short period of time, with no obvious cause
Itching
There are guidelines known as NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines which help GPs to recognise the symptoms of illnesses such as lymphoma cancer so patients can be referred for tests to determine a diagnosis as quickly as possible.
A diagnosis for lymphoma cancer can be determined by a biopsy, which involves a small procedure to remove some or all of an affected lymph node.
If a diagnosis of lymphoma is found, further tests may be performed to determine the stage of the cancer, and whether or not it’s spread.
What can lymphoma be misdiagnosed as?
There are a number of different conditions and illnesses that can cause similar symptoms to lymphoma, so it can be easy for medical professionals to misdiagnose lymphoma as something else. For instance, common illnesses such as a cold or the flu, or a mild infection, can cause lymph nodes to swell slightly. Other illnesses include:
Cat scratch fever
HIV
Mononucleosis
An incorrect type of lymphoma
This is not an extensive list, by any means, and if your cancer was misdiagnosed (regardless of what incorrect diagnosis you received) you may be entitled to claim compensation.
I cannot recommend Slater and Gordon enough, throughout the entire period of the case, all the staff have been both very professional, and supportive.
Mr Q (medical negligence client)
I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything Slater and Gordon have done to fight this case for us. I appreciate it has involved a lot of people. Please can you also thank the expert witnesses who have provided their expertise and help.
Mr and Mrs H (medical negligence client)
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim.
Ms S (medical negligence client)
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 lymphoma 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions about lymphoma misdiagnosis
What is the difference between Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Both Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma develop in the lymphatic system, and affected white blood cells known as lymphocytes. These cells begin to multiply abnormally and settle in lymph nodes around the body.
However, Hodgkin lymphoma specifically affects B-lymphocytes, and cause the lymphocytes to lose their infection-fighting properties, making you more prone to infection. This type of lymphoma is more uncommon than Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which itself comprises of 60 different types of cancer.
How long do I have to start a lymphoma cancer claim?
As a general rule, you have three years from the date you first became aware that the treatment you received was negligent to make a claim. However, there are exceptions to this rule, so it is strongly advised that you speak to a specialist medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible, as they will be able to advise you of any relevant deadlines in your case.
Can I claim lymphoma compensation on behalf of someone else?
It is possible to claim compensation for lymphoma misdiagnosis on behalf of a loved one, though this is only the case in a handful of circumstances. Generally speaking, it is only possible if the person diagnosed with the condition is considered legally unable to submit a claim for themselves.
For instance, a claim can be made on behalf of a child under the age of 18, or on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to submit a claim by themselves.
How much compensation could I receive from a lymphoma cancer claim?
It can be difficult to determine how much your claim could be worth without first discussing the details of your case. Generally speaking, the amount of compensation will be dependent upon how significant the delays in your treatment were, the level of impact any incorrect treatment has had, or how severely your prognosis has been altered by the negligent treatment you received.
To discuss your personal circumstances in more detail, you can reach out to a member of our team for a confidential, no-obligation conversation today either online or by calling 0330 041 5869.
Can I make a no win no fee lymphoma cancer claim?
Yes. The vast majority of our medical negligence cases are funded by way of a conditional agreement, also known as No Win No Fee. It means that there is no cost to you to pursue the claim and, in the event that you lose the case, there are no fees for you to pay, so there is never any financial risk.
If you or a family member have been seriously impacted by medical negligence, and you feel that you're not getting the specialist legal advice you need from your current solicitor, we'll be happy to discuss switching your case to Slater and Gordon. Simply call our experts on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.
I cannot recommend Slater and Gordon enough, throughout the entire period of the case, all the staff have been both very professional, and supportive. Mr Q (medical negligence client)
I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything Slater and Gordon have done to fight this case for us. I appreciate it has involved a lot of people. Please can you also thank the expert witnesses who have provided their expertise and help. Mr and Mrs H (medical negligence client)
Kept informed regularly as to how my claim was going, prompt replies to any questions I had, excellent customer service at all times. Excellent service from all staff that have been involved in my claim. Ms S (medical negligence client)