Ovarian Cancer Negligence Compensation Lawyers.

Ovarian cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop on one or both of a woman’s ovaries. The ovaries are small organs which are part of the female reproductive system, and can be found either side of the uterus. They are responsible for producing an egg each month as part of the menstrual cycle, as well as producing and regulating the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related death in women in the UK, after breast cancer, lung cancer, and bowel cancer. There are several different varieties of ovarian cancer, with the most common being epithelial ovarian cancer. The majority of women who are diagnosed with the disease are over the age of 45, and there tends to be a genetic component, so women with a family history of ovarian or breast cancer may be at a higher risk of developing the disease themselves.

Ovarian cancer is classified into four stages, which helps doctors decide upon the best course of treatment:

• Stage 1 – The cancer is confined to one or both ovaries
• Stage 2 –  The cancer has spread to the pelvic area
• Stage 3 – The cancer has spread nearby to the abdominal area, bowel, or lymph nodes
• Stage 4 – The cancer has spread further throughout the body to areas such as the lungs or liver

When ovarian cancer is detected in the early stages, the prognosis tends to be very good for the majority of women. Sadly, many diagnoses occur during the later stages of ovarian cancer when it is much more difficult to treat and cure. Delays in diagnosing ovarian cancer can occur for any number of reasons, however, if the delay was due to medical negligence and the cancer has progressed as a result, it may be possible to claim compensation.

Some of the key symptoms to look out for include:

• Irregular periods if still menstruating
• Vaginal bleeding post menopause
• Pain during intercourse
• Pelvic pain and discomfort
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Persistent abdominal bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Frequent urination
• Back pain
• General fatigue

Many of these symptoms alone can appear quite vague and non-specific or can be indicative of a variety of different conditions such as appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or menopause/perimenopause. It is this reason that leads to many cases of ovarian cancer being misdiagnosed in the first instance, causing treatment to be delayed.

When you present to your GP with any of the symptoms listed above they have a certain protocol to follow. They should carry out an examination of your abdominal area, and may carry out an internal examination, as well as discussing your family medical history and identifying any risk factors for ovarian cancer.

If your GP suspects ovarian cancer they should request a blood test to check for the presence of CA125 which is a substance emitted by ovarian cancer cells. After the blood test, you may then be referred to a specialist for further testing, including an ultrasound scan which can be performed either abdominally or transvaginally. If the ultrasound detects any anomalies, it will usually be followed up with a CT scan, X-ray, biopsy or laparoscopy, in order to determine the presence of ovarian cancer as well as its stage.

Due to the location of ovarian cancer and its ability to spread rapidly throughout the body, treatment plans are often quite aggressive. A full hysterectomy may be performed, whereby the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are removed completely in order to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

After the surgery, a course of chemotherapy may also be prescribed in order to destroy any remaining cancerous cells.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, radiotherapy or targeted therapies may be used to shrink or cure the cancer, depending on how advanced it is.

Making a claim for compensation after suffering ovarian cancer negligence can help you in a number of ways. The money that you will be awarded can help to make up for your loss of earnings after taking time off work, as well as covering any forecasted future loss of earnings if you are unable to return to work temporarily or permanently due to the deterioration of your condition.

In addition to this, our medical negligence team can offer a variety of support to you and your family. We can help you obtain interim payments to allow you to access different treatments and therapies, which you may not have been aware of, and aid you in your rehabilitation as health journey progresses.

As well as the financial aspect of your claim, we can also help you to seek justice, and hold the right people accountable for what happened to you. Of course, it won’t change things for you, but it can help to prevent the same mistakes from happening to anyone else in the future.