1 week Ago By [email protected] (Samantha Leathers)
Pancreatic cancer has been dubbed a “silent cancer” due to the early warning signs it gives off that often get overlooked, misconstrued or completely misdiagnosed even as other types of cancers. Despite this, pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the UK with those aged 75 and over making up nearly half of patients. Kate Sweeney, Head of Clinical Negligence at , urged people to become familiar with the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer, noting that “early diagnosis is key” but hard to come by when patients and doctors might not put all the symptoms together in time.
They can often be confused with pancreatitis, IBS, muscular pain, gallbladder disease or ulcers, according to . Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer include: If left to its own devices, pancreatic cancer can cause other very serious health conditions like diabetes, blood clots and indigestion. The clinical negligence expert advised everyone, particularly those who feel they may have spotted these early warning signs: “Performing regular health checks at home and seeking prompt medical advice for these symptoms could significantly improve outcomes for those affected.
” She highlighted that delayed diagnoses can also be caused by administrative errors such as failing to act on test results, monitor progress or misreporting scans. Kate urged patients to be proactive and advocate for their own health, particularly as long waiting times in the NHS and fears of not being taken seriously leaves many people putting off seeing their GP until their symptoms can no longer be ignored. She warned: “If you are worried about your health and feel dismissed by your doctor, it’s important to stand firm: ask questions, push for answers, seek a second opinion.
Early detection can save lives, but only if patients feel heard and their symptoms are properly investigated.” Highlighting her unique speciality, the expert continued: “Medical professionals have a duty of care. When this duty is not upheld, patients can suffer serious harm.
If we can prove that your cancer wasn’t diagnosed early enough or that you were given the wrong diagnosis, you could claim cancer misdiagnosis compensation which could help you to access specialist treatment not available on the NHS.”.
