Misdiagnosed Lymphoma and Lymphatic Cancer Claims

Missed lymphoma diagnosis compensation varies from case to case and will be calculated with your situation and experience in mind. When you start a compensation claim the value of your case will be worked out considering a variety of factors that have affected you personally. For instance if a delayed lymphoma diagnosis has affected your prognosis and the financial losses you have experienced both in the past and the future.

If you believe you have suffered due to medical negligence, including misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, you have 3 years to make a claim in Court. The date of this time period starts from ‘date of knowledge’ which in cancer cases is usually the date on which you lymphoma was diagnosed. This can make it difficult to understand if your failure to diagnose claim falls within the allotted time but we’re here to help you should you need assistance.

While you do have 3 years to make a claim from the date you realised there had been a mistake, we recommend that you act as quickly as possible. We know that if you’ve been diagnosed and treated for lymphoma seeking lymphoma compensation can be the last thing on your mind when you’re recovering but it could help your case. Not only will it mean the details are fresher in your mind but it can make documents  such as medical records, easier to access. Whenever you choose to make a claim, Your Legal Friend will be with you every step of the way to offer guidance and support.

Lymphocytes are the white blood cells in your body responsible for helping to fight infections. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system and includes lymph nodes and some organs. These lymphocyte cells can become abnormal and cancerous occasionally, resulting in lymphatic cancer, or lymphoma. Lymphoma can occur at any age, including in children, and is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK. However, cancer of lymphatic system is very treatable and many patients will survive their disease for years after being diagnosed with cancer.

As with all types of cancer, lymphoma is caused when cells alter how they act. Cell abnormality doesn’t necessarily lead to cancer but it can indicate that the disease could develop in the future. Lymphoma specifically refers to change in white blood cells or lymphocytes. While it’s often unknown exactly what causes the cells to change there are risk factors.

Known risks and causes of lymphoma include:

• Immune system problems – A weakened or overactive immune system can increase a person’s likelihood of lymphoma.
• Certain infections – Some viruses have been founded to cause lymphoma both directly and indirectly. Infections linked to the cancer include the Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis C virus.
• A family history – While lymphoma isn’t inherited there is an increased risk of it developing it if you have a close relative that has experienced the disease.
• Previous cancer treatment – Some cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can damage the lymphocytes and alter the way they would normally act.
• Ageing – As with other types of cancer, lymphoma is more common in older people.

There are also other potential causes for lymphoma that have been linked to the disease in studies, including:

• Exposure to certain chemicals – Certain industrial chemicals and pesticides have been citied as lymphoma causes in some studies.
• Lifestyle – Research has also suggested that smoking, poor diet and a lack of exercise could be contributing factors to lymphoma developing.

Scientists are continually studying the disease to see what can cause lymphoma or increase the risk of the cancer developing.

There are over 60 different types of lymphoma and each can cause different symptoms. The types are split into Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in both cases the symptoms of lymphoma can be confused with other conditions, making it difficult to detect and diagnose.

Lymphoma symptoms and signs can differ from person to person, with some not experiencing any symptoms at all, particularly during the earliest stage.

The most common sign of Hodgkin lymphoma is a swelling in the neck, armpit or groin. In most cases the swelling is painless but it may also ache. Other signs of lymphoma include:

• Night sweats
• Unintentional weight loss
• A high temperature
• Persistent cough or feeling of breathlessness
• Persistent itching of the skin all over the body

Depending on where the enlarged lymph glands are as a result of lymphoma other signs may signal that something is wrong and that tests should be undertaken. For instance, if the abdomen is affected some patients may experience indigestion and abdominal pain.

Common non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms are similar to Hodgkin lymphoma, with a swelling often being the first sign a person notices, spurring them to visit their GP. The NHS recommends that those experiencing lymphoma symptoms and signs visit their GP, especially if glands are persistently swollen.

Initially, if you experience the symptoms of lymphoma you should visit your GP. They should listen to your concerns and ask about your general health. They will also carry out a physical examination, looking at any swellings you have and ruling out other potential causes. If necessary the doctor will then refer you to hospital for further tests. The NHS has set out guidelines for referrals times, in urgent cases this can be as quick as 48 hours.

A lymphoma diagnosis is often achieved following a biopsy. This is usually a small operation where part or all of an affected lymph node is removed. It will then be examined to see if any of the cells are cancerous. At this point medical professionals will also be able to determine the type of lymphoma you have.

After diagnosing lymphoma in adults and children it may be necessary to have further tests. These tests can help your doctor see what stage the cancer is at, an important factor for determining treatment, and whether it has spread. The extra tests could include:

• Blood tests
• Bone marrow sample
• Chest x-ray
• CT scan
• MRI scan
• PET scan

When diagnosed cancers are staged from 1 to 4. As with other cancers, lymphoma cancer stages start from 1, where the cancer is limited to one group of lymph nodes, to 4, where it has spread throughout the lymphatic system and affected other areas of the body.

It is possible for lymphoma to be misdiagnosed. The symptoms of both Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can mimic other disease, resulting in the misdiagnosis of lymphoma. Lymphoma misdiagnosis can occur if a GP fails to notice the symptoms of the disease and order the necessary blood tests or biopsies for an accurate diagnosis. It’s also possible for test results to be read inaccurately. A common misdiagnosis of lymphoma is indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative, or T-LPD, as it mimics the symptoms of the disease, however, it won’t respond to lymphoma medications or treatment.

As lymphoma can spread through the lymphatic system very quickly it can be dangerous and result in the cancer reaching other parts of the body. As a result a missed diagnosis of lymphoma can have serious consequences for treatment and the success of it working.  It is more common for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma misdiagnosis to occur as its symptoms are more likely to be mistaken for other conditions.

If you have been diagnosed with lymphoma, a multi-disciplinary team, a group of experts in specific fields, will handle your care. Together this team will create a treatment plan that takes your personal case into account and make recommendations to you based on their knowledge. However, the final decision remains with the patient.

The main option for Hodgkin lymphoma treatment is chemotherapy, which may be followed with radiotherapy. Surgery isn’t usually used to treat lymphoma. In most cases treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is highly effective and most people with the disease will be cured or live with the disease for many years.

Chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma is usually administered through an IV drip but it can also take the form of tablets. High dose chemotherapy is also an option for treating lymphoma if a usual course of chemotherapy has been unsuccessful. Chemotherapy does have side effects, including weakening the immune system, fatigue and hair loss. Chemotherapy can also be supported by radiotherapy, which can treat early stage Hodgkin lymphoma. In some cases steroid medication may also be used alongside chemotherapy.

In the case of treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and steroids can also be used. However, if the disease is classed as low grade and isn’t causing troubling symptoms it may be advised to have a period of ‘watchful waiting’, where treatment isn’t started immediately but the condition is regularly reviewed.

There are certain types of lymphoma that have specific treatment options, which the team responsible for your care should discuss with you if they are viable in your case.

There are over 60 different types of lymphoma. These different lymphomas are split into two categories – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The type of cancer you have should be identified following a biopsy. It affects the treatment options that medical professionals will recommend for you.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Only around 20% of the total cases of lymphoma are Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with around 1,700 people being diagnosed in the UK each year. The disease is also referred to as Hodgkin’s disease. The most common type of Hodgkin’s disease is nodular sclerosis CHL, where involved lymph nodes contain cancerous cells mixed with normal white blood cells.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and around 11,500 people in are diagnosed every year. There are many different types of this cancer, some may not require any treatment at all while other can grow quickly. The types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be described as B-cell lymphomas or T-cell lymphomas, depending where the cancer began.

Among the types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are:

Follicular lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Skin lymphoma