Sarcoma Negligence and Awareness Month
July 9, 2021
Sarcomas are uncommon cancers that can affect any part of the body on the outside and the inside. This includes the muscles, bones, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues. Due to their rarity, not a lot is known about these cancers. Therefore, cases of sarcoma negligence may be common.
July is Sarcoma Awareness Month, and, as these cancers are not as regularly discussed, the negligence that may occur surrounding them is not as openly discussed as other types of cancer.
About Sarcoma
According to Sarcoma UK, 15 people a day are diagnosed with sarcoma in the UK. Yet there is little known about these cancers. There are three main types of sarcoma: soft tissue sarcoma, bone sarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). Soft tissue sarcomas are the most common; they make up around 88% of all sarcoma diagnoses.
Sarcomas are usually found when a lump appears on the leg, arm, or trunk. If a patient finds a lump and goes to the GP, they can diagnose the sarcoma through a series of tests. These tests include an examination, a scan (x-ray, CT, PET or MRI), a biopsy and a bone scan. They can then diagnose the grade and stage of the sarcoma.
After someone receives a diagnosis of sarcoma, they should be referred to a specialist sarcoma team for treatment. They are known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT), which is made up of a team of experts from a range of healthcare professions.
Sarcoma Negligence
If there is any delay in diagnosing the sarcoma, or if it is misdiagnosed, then this could affect the stage and grade of the sarcoma. It may even affect the treatment that the patient needs. In the most extreme cases, a delay may mean that the cancer has grown or spread and is no longer treatable.
If a person is not referred for a scan or referred to the MDT, then there could be a delay in their diagnosis or treatment. This can have devastating effects.
If you, or a loved one, has been diagnosed with cancer, it can change your life. You may have to pay for extra medical treatment. You may have had to make adaptations to your home, you may have had to take time off work or give up work altogether. It will have most certainly impacted your day-to-day life. If there was a delay in the diagnosis of the cancer, and it was someone else’s fault, then it can make coping with the disease even worse.
We know that, after a diagnosis as serious as cancer, you may not be thinking about making a claim. However, mistakes can still happen. Furthermore, if these mistakes were avoidable, then the solicitors we work with can help you with the care, support, and strain it may place on your finances.
How We Can Help
Here at The Medical Negligence Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with medical negligence claims. This includes sarcoma negligence. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138761 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.