Bowel Cancer Misdiagnosis
If you’ve suffered because of a bowel cancer misdiagnosis, you may be feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next. At The Medical Law Partnership, we understand how devastating a delayed or incorrect cancer diagnosis can be, and we’re here to help you secure the compensation you deserve. Below, we explain how common these errors are, what mistakes can lead to a claim, and how we can support you through the legal process.
How Common Are Bowel Cancer Misdiagnoses and What Should Patients be Aware of?
Bowel cancer is a common cancer in the UK, but diagnosis errors happen more often than they should. Delays or misdiagnoses affect many patients each year, often because symptoms are mistaken for conditions like IBS or haemorrhoids.
There are several ways in which mistakes can occur during the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer. Some of the more common errors we see in negligence claims include:
Failure to recognise symptoms
Bowel cancer symptoms, such as persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stools, unexplained weight loss, or abdominal pain, should prompt further investigation. If your GP or specialist dismissed these signs without proper tests, this could amount to negligence.
Delayed referrals for tests
NICE guidelines state that patients with certain symptoms should be referred urgently for a colonoscopy or other investigations. If there was an unnecessary delay in referring you, this may have worsened your condition.
Misinterpretation of test results
Mistakes in reading colonoscopies, biopsies, or scans can lead to missed or incorrect diagnoses. Radiologists, pathologists, or gastroenterologists may overlook abnormalities that should have been investigated further.
Inadequate follow-up
Even after initial tests, if medical professionals failed to monitor you properly or missed signs of cancer in follow-up appointments, this could be grounds for a claim.
If your bowel cancer was missed, diagnosed late, or treated incorrectly, you’re not alone. These errors can let the cancer progress, lead to harsher treatment, or lower survival rates, making accountability essential when mistakes cause harm.
There are several ways in which mistakes can occur during the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer. Some of the more common errors we see in negligence claims include:
- Failure to recognise symptoms: Bowel cancer symptoms, such as persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stools, unexplained weight loss, or abdominal pain, should prompt further investigation. If your GP or specialist dismissed these signs without proper tests, this could amount to negligence.
- Delayed referrals for tests: NICE guidelines state that patients with certain symptoms should be referred urgently for a colonoscopy or other investigations. If there was an unnecessary delay in referring you, this may have worsened your condition.
- Misinterpretation of test results: Mistakes in reading colonoscopies, biopsies, or scans can lead to missed or incorrect diagnoses. Radiologists, pathologists, or gastroenterologists may overlook abnormalities that should have been investigated further.
- Inadequate follow-up: Even after initial tests, if medical professionals failed to monitor you properly or missed signs of cancer in follow-up appointments, this could be grounds for a claim.
If any of these errors happened in your case, you may have a viable claim for compensation.
Starting a claim with us is straightforward. The first step is to contact our specialist team for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to your experience, review your medical records, and assess whether you have a valid claim.
If we believe negligence has occurred, we’ll guide you through the next steps. Our solicitors are experts in medical negligence law, and we’ll handle all the legal complexities while keeping you informed at every stage. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning you won’t face any financial risk in pursuing your claim.
You won’t have to navigate this alone – we’ll support you, gather expert medical opinions, negotiate with the responsible healthcare providers, and fight to secure the compensation you deserve.
Compensation in medical negligence cases is designed to cover both the financial and emotional impact of your injury. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim for:
- Pain and suffering caused by the delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
- Loss of earnings if you were unable to work due to worsened illness or extended treatment.
- Medical expenses, including costs of additional treatments, medications, or private care.
- Care and assistance if you needed extra help at home due to your condition.
- Future losses if your ability to work or quality of life has been permanently affected.
Every case is different, so we’ll ensure your claim reflects the full extent of your suffering and financial losses.
The duration of a claim varies depending on its complexity and whether the defendant (usually the NHS or a private healthcare provider) admits fault early on. Some cases settle within 2-4 years, while more complex disputes may take longer.
We always aim to resolve claims as efficiently as possible, but we’ll never rush your case -our priority is securing the best possible outcome for you.
If you’ve been let down by mistakes in your bowel cancer diagnosis, you deserve justice. Let us help you hold those responsible to account and secure the compensation you need to move forward. Contact The Medical Law Partnership today.
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