Testicular cancer is a type of cancer which can affect men. According to statistics from Cancer Research UK, there were approximately 2,400 new diagnoses of testicular cancer between 2017 and 2019. It is important that testicular cancer is correctly diagnosed so patients can receive the treatment they need and have the best chance of making a full recovery. If mistakes in diagnosis or treatment are made due to medical negligence, you could be eligible to claim compensation for testicular cancer misdiagnosis.
In this guide, we look at what testicular cancer is, how it can be diagnosed, why misdiagnosis can happen and when you could be eligible to make a medical negligence claim. We then look at the types of evidence which could support your case and how a specialist No Win No Fee solicitor could help you. We finish by providing you with further resources and answering some of the most commonly asked questions about cancer misdiagnosis claims.
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Browse Our Guide
- What Is Testicular Cancer?
- How Is Testicular Cancer Diagnosed?
- How Could A Testicular Cancer Misdiagnosis Happen?
- Can I Claim For Testicular Cancer Misdiagnosis?
- Do I Need Evidence To Prove Testicular Cancer Misdiagnosis?
- Can I Make A No Win No Fee Claim For Cancer Misdiagnosis?
- Read More About Making Medical Negligence Claims
- FAQs For Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims
What Is Testicular Cancer?
Testicular cancer is most commonly found in men aged between 15 and 49 and can affect anyone who has testicles. It affects the male reproductive system and occurs when cells in one of the testicles divide and grow in an abnormal or uncontrolled way.
If cancer is not diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion, the disease can spread to other body parts. The lymph nodes run through the body as part of the lymphatic system. This system collects waste products and drains them into the veins to be removed. If the cancer spreads to the lymphatic system, it could spread to other parts of the body, known as metastatic cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, testicular cancer can commonly spread to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen.
The severity of the condition depends on the type of testicular cancer the person has, how big the cancer is and how much it spreads to other parts of the body.
There are several different types of testicular cancers. These include:
- Germ cell tumours. There are two main types of germ cell tumours which are called seminomas and non-seminomas.
- Mixed germ cell tumours.
- Lymphoma
- Sex cord stromal tumours.
What Are The Symptoms Of Testicular Cancer?
The most common symptoms of testicular cancer include:
- Pain or discomfort in the scrotum or testicle.
- Swelling or a lump on one of the testicles.
- A testicle which is getting bigger.
- A heavy scrotum.
The symptoms of testicular cancer can be similar to those of other conditions affecting the testicles, such as infections. As with any form of cancer, it is important that you get an early diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible. Learn more about claims for cancer misdiagnosis by contacting our team.
How Is Testicular Cancer Diagnosed?
The first medical assessment many patients will have is seeing a GP. Your GP should ask questions about your health, your medical history and your family history. They should also carry out a physical examination of your testicles if this is warranted.
During the physical examination, your GP will check your testicles and penis. They will also check lymph nodes at the top of your legs and may also examine your pelvis and abdomen. Your GP may listen to your chest to check for signs of fluid. If they have any concerns, they should refer you to a specialist, such as an oncologist, or for further tests.
Testing For Cancer
Further, testicular cancer tests that your GP could refer you for include:
- Blood tests. These can check for the markers of tumours in your blood.
- Ultrasound scans. Scans of your testicles and your scrotum could highlight any abnormal growths. A detailed scan can also confirm if this growth is a solid mass or a cyst.
- An MRI scan. If the ultrasound scan did not conclusively show if a lump is cancerous, an MRI may be used to obtain a clearer image of any growths.
If you are not referred for further tests or assessment, you can ask your GP why they are not referring you. You can also ask if you need to have a follow-up medical appointment in the future to check the progress of any symptoms. If your tests do indicate that you have cancer, you should be scheduled for treatment.
Getting diagnosed and starting treatment early is important in any instance of cancer. If testicular cancer is diagnosed early, before it has spread, treatment can involve an operation to remove the cancerous tissues.
If your GP or another doctor has negligently delayed the diagnosis of your cancer, your condition may worsen, and you could sue your doctor for negligence. Find out if you could claim for testicular cancer misdiagnosis by contacting us today.
How Could A Testicular Cancer Misdiagnosis Happen?
If you develop testicular cancer symptoms, it is important that you are diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Any delays to your treatment or negligent treatment could allow time for the cancer to spread to other parts of the body, making treatment more complex and your long-term prognosis worse.
There are a number of ways in which the misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis of testicular cancer could happen.
- Misdiagnosis of testicular cancer as another illness or condition. This could mean that you received the wrong medication or treatment.
- You were not set for further testing, investigation, or follow-up appointments after your initial assessment, resulting in a delayed diagnosis.
- A doctor did not follow up on the results of your tests. They may not have looked at the test results or not actioned them appropriately.
- A doctor did follow up on your test results, but did so incorrectly. They may have incorrectly interpreted or recorded them.
Testicular cancer could spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and result in further conditions such as oesophageal cancer. If you think you have received sub-standard medical treatment, contact us to see if you are eligible to start a testicular cancer misdiagnosis claim today.
Can I Claim For Testicular Cancer Misdiagnosis?
In order to make medical negligence claims, you need to show that any delays to your diagnosis or treatment or any misdiagnosis of your disease were due to negligence on the part of medical professionals.
When under the care of a medical professional, such as a GP, oncologist or surgeon, you are owed a duty of care. Medical professionals should ensure that the treatment and care they provide meet minimum accepted professional standards. If the level of care you were provided with fell below the minimum accepted professional standards and you were harmed, you may be entitled to claim damages. To make a claim, you must have suffered avoidable harm due to medical negligence.
Criteria to claim for medical negligence.
- That a medical professional owed you a duty of care. Such as being under the care of a GP.
- That the duty of care has been breached, such as the GP forgets to refer you to an oncologist and your cancer diagnosis is delayed.
- As a result of this, you have suffered avoidable harm. Your cancer may have spread to other parts of the body, and this would not have been the case without the delay.
To find out more about whether you could claim testicular cancer compensation, please contact one of our advisors.
Do I Need Evidence To Prove Testicular Cancer Misdiagnosis?
Whether making a testicular cancer claim, leukaemia misdiagnosis claim or claiming for unnecessary surgery, you need to prove that a medical professional has acted negligently and be able to provide proof of the harm this caused you. Without evidence, it can be hard to show that a medical professional is responsible for the harm you have suffered.
Evidence which could support cancer misdiagnosis claims may include:
- Copies of your medical records. These will include doctor’s notes, records of your diagnosis and any tests or examinations you had. Your treatment and medications given will also be included.
- Having a medical appointment where an independent medical professional will carry out an assessment.
- Photographs of any visible harm.
- Witness statements, as sometimes what you said to your medical professional, can be disputed.
Our advisors could help people to claim for testicular cancer misdiagnosis. Learn more about how to claim by calling our team.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Claim For Cancer Misdiagnosis?
If you have been harmed by testicular cancer misdiagnosis, our panel of medical negligence solicitors could help you. The solicitors who are part of our panel have experience in helping people to claim for misdiagnosed cancer and other types of medical negligence. We understand how a diagnosis of cancer can impact people, and our sensitive team will support you through the claims process.
A solicitor from our panel could support you through your claim by offering their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), also known as a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that you will only pay for their services if and when you win your claim and are awarded compensation. If your claim isn’t successful, you do not need to pay your solicitor for their work on your case.
If your testicular cancer claim is successful, your solicitor will deduct a legally capped success fee from your settlement. This success fee is set as a percentage of your compensation and will be agreed upon between you and your solicitor before your case begins.
To speak to a member of our team about your case, use the channels below:
- Call us now on 0800 408 7825.
- Chat to us using our live chat feature.
- Send a message via our ‘contact us’ form.
Read More About Making Medical Negligence Claims
Here we include further information in claiming compensation for clinical negligence.
- In this resource, we look at how NHS negligence payouts are calculated.
- If a prescription error harmed you, check if you could be eligible to claim compensation.
- If you suffered pressure sores in a hospital because of negligent treatment and care, check to see if you could be due compensation.
Cancer resources
- In this resource from Cancer Research UK you can see statistics on testicular cancer rates in the UK.
- This NHS resource looks at cancer waiting times for treatment in the UK.
- This UK Government resource looks at cancer survival rates in the UK.
FAQs For Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims
Below we look at some of the most frequently asked questions about testicular cancer misdiagnosis compensation claims.
What Is The Time Limit For Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims?
Any medical negligence claim must be started within the applicable limitation period. The limitation period is set out in the Limitation Act 1980. The standard limit is three years from the date of medical negligence taking place.
Exceptions to this limit may apply in claims for those under the age of 18 or those who lack mental capacity. In such cases a Litigation friend may be able to make a claim.
What Happens If Cancer Is Misdiagnosed?
If your cancer is misdiagnosed the delay in getting the correct diagnosis and treatment could allow your cancer to spread to other parts of the body. This may mean that your health deteriorates, that you require more extensive, invasive or complex treatment. It could also mean that your cancer progresses to the point that it can no longer be treated.
We hope our guide to testicular cancer misdiagnosis claims has helped you. If you any any questions, please contact our expert team.