Delayed Cervical Cancer Treatment
Cervical cancer is relatively rare but, nonetheless, approximately 1,000 women die from it in the UK each year. Regular screening is in place for women to try to catch the condition in its early stages but mistakes are made and lives are destroyed or lost as a result.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer develops at the cervix where the vagina meets the womb and is caused by the human papilloma virus, mostly affecting women between the ages of 30 and 45. The virus is transmitted through sexual activity.
If it is not treated promptly, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Cervical Screening
Across the UK a programme of cervical screening is in place for women from the ages of 25 to 64 to try to spot abnormal cells and prevent the development of cervical cancer.
A sample of cells is taken from the cervix and sent for testing. If abnormal cells are identified, the woman is referred for further testing.
Receiving a result of abnormal cells does not necessarily mean that the woman has cancer but she may be in danger of developing it and action needs to be taken.
Further testing - a colposcopy
If you have abnormal cells, you may need to undergo a colposcopy where a specialist examines the cervix in more detail and takes biopsies (samples) of areas where the abnormalities are present.
If the outcome of this investigation suggests that you may have cervical cancer, further tests will be necessary to assess the extent and 'stage' of the cancer.
The stage of the cancer - from Stage 0 to Stage 4 - identifies how far the cancer has spread and is associated with the chances that the patient might expect to survive the next 5 years.
Assessing cervical cancer
In order to identify the degree to which the cancer has spread, further tests are undertaken which might include the following:
- Examination of the cervix, womb, bladder and bowel under general anaesthetic
- An MRI scan of the pelvic area and abdomen to check the location and spread of any cancer
- A CT scan of chest and abdomen to check for the spread of cancer
- Blood tests to check your level of health and bodily functions
Impact of Delayed Treatment
Cervical cancer, like any other, can kill if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. The longer diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the greater the chance that the cancer will spread to elsewhere in the body. If it is spotted in time, however, it can be treated and prevented.
Even when the patient survives, delayed treatment of cervical cancer can produce the devastating outcome of infertility.
Scrupulous administration of tests, thorough examination of test results and accurate recognition of signs and abnormalities are absolutely crucial to the best outcome for the patient.
Failure to diagnose
A delay in diagnosis can be due to a number of reasons:
- A failure to undertake the appropriate tests
- A failure to recognise abnormalities in results
- A misinterpretation of abnormalities in results
Any of these mistakes could be considered to represent a substandard level of care and the patient may be able to make a claim for compensation for their pain and suffering.
Legal Advice
If you are suffering with the effects of poorly treated cervical cancer, you should speak with a solicitor to discuss whether it might be appropriate to pursue a claim for compensation.
Glynns Solicitors is a specialist medical negligence legal practice. One of our team of experienced solicitors would be very happy to discuss your situation with you.
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