Making a bladder cancer compensation claim

Bladder cancer is quite common in the UK; according to Cancer Research, 1 in 130 females and 1 in 55 males in the UK will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in their lifetime. This equates to just over 10,000 cases a year and can be caused by exposure to certain chemicals that impact the bladder over a prolonged period. Smoking is thought to be one of the main causes.

As with many types of cancer, the best chance for a positive prognosis is catching the cancer early and starting treatment as soon as possible. It means that any delays in diagnosis or treatment can have a profound affect not only on a person’s quality of life, but also their chances at recovery.

We understand how overwhelming a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be for you and your loved ones, particularly if you believe the medical professionals responsible for your care missed opportunities to diagnose or treat your condition sooner.

Our industry-leading medical negligence solicitors are here to support you and your family if you’ve suffered as a result of bladder cancer misdiagnosis and have many years’ experience in handling successful bladder cancer compensation claims.

What are the different types of bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is the term given to the development of abnormal tissue (a tumour) in the lining of the bladder, which can then spread to the bladder muscle if it is not caught or treated quickly enough.

It can be classified into three different types of bladder cancer, depending upon how far it has spread.

• Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: cancerous cells are contained within the lining of the bladder and have not yet spread to the muscle. It is the most common type of bladder cancer diagnosed, though can carry quite a high risk if the cancer is thought to be particularly aggressive.
• Muscle-invasive bladder cancer: this type is less common, but it carries a higher risk of spreading to other parts of the body as the cells have already spread from the bladder lining to the surrounding muscle.
• Advanced or metastatic cancer: this is the most serious type of bladder cancer, where cancerous cells have already spread out of the bladder to other parts of the body.

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is passing blood in your urine, known as haematuria. If you notice blood in your urine, even if it comes and goes, you should always speak to your doctor as soon as possible. It might not be anything as serious as bladder cancer, but it could be a sign of other conditions such as infections or kidney stones.

Other early-stage symptoms can include:

• Needing to urinate more frequently than normal for you
• A sudden urge to urinate
• A burning sensation when you pass urine

Further symptoms can begin to show as bladder cancer progresses to later stages, and can include:

• Pain in your pelvis (between your hips)
• Pain in your bones
• Unexpected or unintended weight loss
• Swelling in your legs

What constitutes bladder cancer misdiagnosis?

In the majority, medical professionals provide patients with a high standard of care. However, there are occasions when mistakes do happen which cause delays that can be life-threatening. The most common causes of delays are:

• A failure to recognise the symptoms of bladder cancer
• Failing to carry out the correct examinations or tests
• Incorrectly interpreting the results of the test and missing opportunities to treat the cancer early

Bladder cancer also shares symptoms with a number of other conditions, which can cause it to be misdiagnosed. This then results in the cancer being left to spread unchecked while the patient is treated for a different condition. Some of the conditions that bladder cancer can be mistaken for include:

• A urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Kidney infection
• Kidney stones
• Non-gonococcal urethritis (infection of the urethra)
• An enlarged prostate in men

Can I make a bladder cancer compensation claim?

We understand how difficult it can be to receive a cancer diagnosis, and no one should then have to deal with the consequences of negligent treatment and misdiagnosis. No amount of compensation can fix what has been done, but making a claim can help to support you and your family through your recovery and treatment.

To make a bladder cancer compensation claim, you need to be able to prove that there has been a breach in the duty of care owed to you by the medical professionals responsible for your care, and that this breach caused a negative impact on your treatment and prognosis.

If you think that a medical professional failed to fulfil their responsibilities, and their failure caused you unnecessary harm, contact us now and we'll be able to advise you on how we can gather evidence for your medical negligence claim.

What will happen during my bladder cancer compensation claim?

We understand that making a pancreatic cancer claim can be daunting, particularly if you’re still recovering or receiving treatment for your condition. We’ll take it step-by-step, at a pace you are comfortable with, and explain what each stage will involve throughout the process.

Our friendly, empathetic team members are on hand to guide and support you, and will make every effort to ensure the process is as simple and as stress-free as possible. We’ll start by sitting down with you to discuss your personal circumstances and the care you received, and let you know whether we think you have a case to pursue.

From there, we’ll investigate your medical records, alongside our in-house nurses and medical experts, to identify any instances of negligent treatment, and the impact that this has had. We’ll also organise independent medical examinations for you to provide an independent medical assessment and prognosis.

Early on in the process, we’ll reach out to those responsible for your treatment to establish liability, which can help us to secure interim payments to support your treatment and care. Throughout your case, our industry-leading experts will pursue your claim and aim to settle negotiations quickly, securing the compensation you deserve without the hassle. We’ll keep you informed at every step of the way, so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.

Why should I choose Slater and Gordon?

Our misdiagnosed cancer team are one of the best in the country and are highly ranked in independent legal guides such as Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

The team are highly experienced in dealing with bladder cancer misdiagnosis claims can provide you with the best possible service, not only ensuring that you get the best outcome to your case, but that you get the treatment and additional support you need to assist with your recovery. We’re committed to providing the best support from day one, which is way we also offer home and hospital visits to allow us to provide immediate representation and rehabilitation support; allowing you to focus on recovery while we handle your claim.

Visit our medical negligence FAQs or our medical negligence claims guide for further information on how to make a claim.