Prostate Cancer Claims for Compensation

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in men in the UK, but it has a high survival rate with early diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, any delay in diagnosing prostate cancer or any misdiagnosis can mean that a patient’s chance of optimum recovery can be jeopardised.

If you believe that a delayed or missed diagnosis of prostate cancer has led to a worsening of your condition, or if you have experienced any other form of medical negligence during your treatment, the expert solicitors at JMW are here to help you make a claim for any compensation as a result of that poor treatment.

Our team have the requisite knowledge, skill and experience to guide you through the process of a claim arising from any mismanagement in respect of your prostate cancer diagnosis or treatment, so that you can focus on your recovery. Subject to an initial discussion and assessment of your case, we will be able to pursue your claim on the basis of a “no win, no fee” agreement, so there is no financial risk involved.

To speak to our team and find out more about making a prostate cancer claim, contact us today. Call JMW on 0345 872 6666 or complete our online enquiry form, and we will get in touch to answer any questions you may have.

Meet Our Team of Prostate Cancer Compensation Claim Experts

JMW has acted for individuals whose prostate cancer was delayed or missed due to medical negligence, such as failures in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, GP referrals, or scan interpretation. We investigate the care by obtaining independent expert reports so we can advance the claim and seek compensation to help secure financial support for our clients’ treatment and recovery.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a small gland at the base of the male bladder. It produces a protein called PSA, or prostate-specific antigen. Over 55,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK, and, as the most common cancer in men, it unfortunately causes some 12,000 deaths each year. The most common age of presentation is between 65 and 85, and a diagnosis is rare before the age of 50.

Cancer of the prostate is a serious condition and can often be slow to develop. 

It may only affect a small area of the gland and can grow at such a slow rate that it is often symptomless and requires no treatment. However, in younger men, the cancer tends to be more aggressive, causing noticeable symptoms and often spreading beyond the prostate (particularly to the bones).

What causes prostate cancer?

The cause of prostate cancer is currently unknown. Some factors appear to increase the likelihood of this type of cancer developing and can include:

• Family history
• Ethnic origin
• Diet and health

Prostate Cancer UK has a risk checker tool which can help you to check your risk of prostate cancer:

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

In the early stages of cancer, a patient may be asymptomatic. However, as the prostate gland enlarges, problems can occur, such as difficulty passing urine. Symptoms may therefore include:

• Needing to urinate more
• A feeling that the bladder is not fully empty
• Straining whilst urinating

It is important to note that most men with urinary problems will not go on to develop prostate cancer. Benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) is very common in men over 50. Symptoms of further advanced cancer of the prostate include:

• Blood in the urine
• Blood in the semen
• Pain in the hips, back or legs (due to spread to the bones)

However, an enlarged prostate may warrant a referral by your GP for further tests, particularly if it is combined with other symptoms of prostate cancer. Delayed diagnosis can have a significant impact on a patient’s condition, and doctors should act quickly if they suspect that the symptoms you are experiencing are linked to prostate cancer.

How Should Prostate Cancer Be Diagnosed and Treated?

There are several steps involved in diagnosing prostate cancer, and pathways and guidance that should be followed by medical professionals. Men presenting to their GP with prostate symptoms or concerns about cancer will usually have a digital rectal examination. A blood test may also be taken to establish the PSA level. This can be raised if the prostate is enlarged, infected or cancerous. Antibiotics may well be given pre-emptively to exclude infection. 

On further testing, if the levels are still raised, then an urgent referral to a specialist may be required to investigate further. The doctor may recommend a biopsy to confirm or refute a cancer diagnosis and, if confirmed, to assess whether it has spread to other parts of the body or whether metastases are present.

The type of treatment will depend on how advanced and aggressive the cancer is, together with other considerations, including the age and health of the patient. In an elderly patient, the cancer tends to be slow-growing, and the doctor may believe that a “watch and wait” strategy is appropriate; namely, just to keep the patient under review for further monitoring. In some cases, surgery may be required, known as a prostatectomy (removal of the gland), which would be followed by regular PSA testing to ensure there is no recurrence. If at the time of diagnosis the staging of the cancer is advanced, then radiotherapy and hormone therapy may be necessary in addition.  

Although this is generally a slow-growing cancer, as with all cancers prompt diagnosis and treatment are frequently associated with a better prognosis, so healthcare professionals (including GPs and others) should have a low threshold for referring a patient for further investigations, where there are red flag signs or symptoms.  It is also important to regularly screen patients who have undergone treatment for prostate cancer, in order to detect any recurrence at the earliest possible opportunity.  

What Is Medical Negligence in Prostate Cancer Claims?

If errors occur in the diagnosis, management and treatment of prostate cancer, and a patient has suffered harm as a result, this can equate to “medical negligence”. There are a number of ways this can occur: early signs and symptoms may be missed (known as red flags), test results could be misinterpreted, or referrals may not place quickly enough.  

Whilst prostate cancer has a high survival rate when diagnosed early, the chances diminish if the cancer progresses unchecked. 12,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in the UK, and advanced prostate cancer, or a condition that has spread beyond the prostate, can be much more problematic to treat. 

These are just examples, and if you have any concerns regarding any aspect of your diagnosis or treatment, contact JMW today to learn more about making a claim.