Bladder Cancer Missed By General Practitioners

Margo sought help from her GP over a period of two years for her symptoms but was repeatedly told she had a urinary tract infection. It was only when she saw a doctor overseas that she was diagnosed with incurable bladder cancer.

In 2006 Margo began to experience increased urinary frequency, along with a burning sensation during urination and a pain in her side. She constantly went back to her GP who would diagnose her with a urinary tract infection. Sometimes a urine test would be taken, but sometimes she was simply handed a prescription for antibiotics.

Margo was visiting her GP every three months with the same symptoms, but each time was told she had 'women's problems'. In 2007 she attended a new GP surgery and hoped that the matter would be investigated further. Sadly the same cycle continued – she would be diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and given a variety of antibiotics.

This persisted despite the fact she reported blood and small pieces of discharge in her urine. Again she was given medication and told there was nothing to worry about.

In the summer of 2008 Margo and her husband went abroad on holiday. While there Margo's symptoms deteriorated rapidly but she had run out of antibiotics. She therefore attended a local GP who became extremely concerned about her symptoms. He performed an ultrasound scan and a chest x-ray there and then.

Within 15 minutes of the appointment beginning, he broke the devastating news to Margo that she had a 7cm tumour inside her bladder. He suggested that she probably had 18 to 24 months to live. He wrote a thorough explanation for Margo to take home to her GP, which she did a month later.

Once back in England, Margo underwent a biopsy which confirmed the diagnosis. She was told she needed surgery to remove the bladder and a total hysterectomy. As a result of this she was unable to urinate of her own accord and needed a stoma bag.

Over the next year Margo had two courses of chemotherapy which made her very unwell. Her quality of life was adversely affected and she became effectively bed-bound. Her husband had to carry her to the bathroom so she could wash. She could do nothing around the house and was not allowed to be around her grandchildren during chemotherapy treatment because of her low immunity.

Early the following year, Margo's health declined rapidly and she sadly died. Had doctors diagnosed her bladder cancer when she initially sought help, it is likely that Margo would have made a full recovery. Instead, she experienced a series of misdiagnoses, as a result of which, action was taken too late for her to be able to recover.

We helped Margo's widower make a claim for the terrible pain and suffering both Margo and her loved ones suffered because of the delay in diagnosis. He was awarded over £50,000 compensation.

(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)

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