Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

You have a valid cancer misdiagnosis claim if a medical professional failed to meet the standard of care expected of them, and that failure directly caused you harm. If your diagnosis was delayed, missed or incorrect and your condition worsened as a result, you may be entitled to compensation. A free consultation with our team will give you a clear answer.

Cancer misdiagnosis covers three situations: a missed diagnosis where cancer was not identified at all; a delayed diagnosis where diagnosis came later than it should have; and a wrong diagnosis where either cancer was incorrectly identified or another condition was mistaken for cancer. All three can form the basis of a medical negligence claim.

A delayed diagnosis means cancer was eventually identified, but not as soon as it should have been. A missed diagnosis means it was never identified at the relevant time. Both can support a claim, but the evidence required differs; delayed diagnosis cases must show that earlier detection would have materially improved your outcome.

You generally have three years to start a cancer misdiagnosis claim. This runs from the date of the negligent treatment or, where relevant, from the date you became aware that negligence may have occurred. Children are exempt until their 18th birthday. Do not wait as evidence becomes harder to gather over time.

Cancer misdiagnosis compensation varies depending on the severity of harm caused, how far the cancer progressed, the treatment you required, and any financial losses such as lost earnings or care costs. There is no fixed figure, but our solicitors will give you a realistic assessment once we’ve reviewed your case.

Most cancer misdiagnosis compensation claims take between one and three years to resolve. Straightforward cases that settle early can conclude sooner; complex cases involving disputed liability or serious long-term harm may take longer. We’ll keep you updated throughout and won’t draw the process out unnecessarily.

We handle cancer misdiagnosis claims on a no win, no fee basis, so there are no upfront costs and no fees to pay if your claim is unsuccessful. If your claim succeeds, a percentage of your compensation will cover legal costs. We’ll explain exactly what this means for you before you commit to anything.

You can claim against the NHS for cancer misdiagnosis if negligent care caused you harm. Claims are made against the relevant NHS Trust, with NHS Resolution handling the response on their behalf. The process follows the same Pre-Action Protocol as any other clinical negligence claim, and your right to NHS treatment is not affected.

A claim can be brought on behalf of someone who has died as a result of cancer misdiagnosis. Next of kin have three years from the date of death to make a claim. Compensation in these cases can include bereavement damages and loss of financial dependency under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.

If you think your cancer was misdiagnosed, speak to a specialist medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible. Do not delay, as time limits apply and early action makes it easier to gather medical records and expert evidence. Our team in Manchester, Sale and Chester offers a free, no-obligation consultation to assess your situation.