Patient diagnosed with terminal cancer after 19 hospital and GP visits
A woman, who visited her GP 17 times and hospital twice for severe back pain, has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
Fifty-eight year old, Julia Rogers, first received a blood test and scan in September 2013 after suffering severe back and abdominal pain. At the time of her scan, her pancreas was obscured by excessive bowel gas, meaning her tumour was not identified. A repeat test was never arranged.
Between September 2013 and June 2014, Mrs Rogers sought medical advice on 19 different occasions, but it was only when she paid £600 for a scan that she was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
NHS England has said that this particular case calls for a thorough investigation, and will meet with Mrs Rogers to address her concerns.
Pancreatic cancer is currently the ninth most common cancer in the UK, with approximately 8,800 people diagnosed each year. In some cases, the only course of treatment is to surgically remove the tumour but that is only suitable in around 15-20% of cases.
Madeleine Pinschof, a clinical negligence solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors' Bristol office, said:
"Pancreatic cancer has few symptoms during the early stages, and can be difficult to diagnose. But, in this case there were a huge number of missed opportunities to diagnose Mrs Rogers' illness.
"It is vital that, when a patient presents concerns about their health to medical experts, their symptoms are properly investigated and followed up.
"Delayed or missed diagnosis of any type of cancer can have the most devastating effects for patients and their families. It is vital that a rigorous investigation is carried out into this case to ensure that no other patient has to go through what Mrs Rogers has suffered."
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