Multiple Myeloma Negligence & Misdiagnosis Claims Solicitors.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow, and often affects multiple parts of the body including the spine, pelvis ribs and skull. Bone marrow is a spongy tissue which can be found at the centre of some bones, and it is responsible for producing the body’s blood cells. Multiple myeloma affects a particular type of blood cell, known as plasma, within the bone marrow and occurs when the myeloma cells expand uncontrollably within the bone marrow, affecting the production of blood cells and causing damage to the bones.

Unlike many other types of cancer, multiple myeloma does not cause a lump or tumour to form, which can therefore make it more difficult to detect and diagnose and can sometimes result in a misdiagnosis occurring.

In the early stages of the disease, many patients do not experience any symptoms. When symptoms do begin to show, the cancer is often quite advanced, so any delay in receiving a diagnosis and treatment can have a detrimental impact on a patient.

The key symptoms to look out for include:

• Persistent bone pain
• Weak bones that fracture easily
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Unexplained bruising
• Unusual and/or heavy bleeding
• Kidney failure
• Feeling very tired and weak
• Hypercalcaemia
• Anaemia

If you experience any of these symptoms, or any other symptoms which give you cause for concern, it is always a good idea to see your GP as soon as possible. The earlier multiple myeloma cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the long term prognosis will generally be.

If your diagnosis has been delayed due to medical negligence and your condition has worsened as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation; our experienced medical negligence solicitors are available to offer advice and answer any questions you may have.

The symptoms of multiple myeloma don’t often present themselves properly until the disease is quite advanced, so it can be difficult to spot the early signs. Some of the symptoms, such as dizziness, headaches, feeling weak and tired, and unexplained weight loss can be attributed to several other conditions which may not be as serious as cancer, and are the kind of symptoms that some people may not necessarily think to consult their GP about straight away.

Due to the delay in symptoms of multiple myeloma showing, and the vague nature of some of the symptoms, the condition can sometimes be misdiagnosed. Some examples of how medical negligence can contribute to the misdiagnosis of multiple myeloma include:

• Failure to listen to a patient’s concerns upon presenting with symptoms
• Failure to refer a patient to an oncologist for further testing
• Failure to carry out the necessary testing
• Failure to read and interpret the test results accurately
• Failure to follow up on abnormal test results
• Failure to prescribe the correct course of treatment

It is not known exactly why multiple myeloma develops, however there are several risk factors which are thought to increase the likelihood of a person developing the disease, including:

• Being male
• Being aged over 50
• Being African American
• Being in the obese category
• Previous exposure to radiation
• A history of Gaucher Disease
• Working in a petroleum-related industry
• Having close relatives who have had myeloma

If you fall into one or more of these at-risk categories, it does not necessarily mean that you will develop multiple myeloma. However, if you present to your doctor with symptoms and you have any of the known risk factors, they have a duty of care to carry out thorough testing to rule out or diagnose cancer. Failure to order the necessary tests, or failure to interpret the results accurately can constitute medical negligence and form the basis for a compensation claim.