Testicular Cancer Negligence Compensation Solicitors.

When testicular cancer is detected and treated early the prognosis is typically very good for most men. However, any delay in diagnosing and treating testicular cancer could lead to the disease worsening and progressing, thus affecting the overall prognosis for the patient and potentially leading to more invasive treatment, or even rendering the disease untreatable.

Although the symptoms of testicular cancer could also pertain to several other, less serious, conditions, your GP should be aware of what to look out for and when to refer a patient to hospital for further testing.

There are a number of scenarios in which medical negligence could potentially occur, leading to a worsening of a patient’s testicular cancer, including:

• Your GP fails to examine you when you present with symptoms
• Your GP fails to refer you to a specialist for further testing
• Your referral isn’t put through as urgent
• The specialist fails to carry out the appropriate tests
• The test results are misread or misinterpreted
• An abnormal test result isn’t reported or followed up
• Your symptoms are misdiagnosed as something else

This list is by no means exhaustive, and if you have experienced any type of negligent treatment from a medical professional which has led to your testicular cancer progressing, you may be able to claim compensation.

There are a number of symptoms of testicular cancer which are typically very identifiable, so seeing your GP as soon as possible can lead to an early diagnosis and intervention, which often leads to a positive long term prognosis.

The key symptoms to look out for include:

• A lump or swelling in one of the testicles
• Pain or swelling in the scrotal area
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• An aching sensation or pain in the testicles
• Changes in the size and shape of the testicles
• One testicle appears different to the other one
• The testicles feel firmer than usual

If you notice any changes at all in your testicles it is important you seek medical advice as soon as possible. It may actually be something benign like a cyst, but if it does turn out to be testicular cancer, catching it and treating it early will give you the best possible chance of survival in both the short term and long term.

If you have previously presented to your GP with any of the above symptoms and they did not carry out the appropriate checks and tests, and it was later discovered to be testicular cancer, you may be able to claim compensation. Our medical negligence team can offer advice and assistance, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

Testicular cancer can manifest within the body in several different ways, and is classified based on the type of cell in which the cancer was originally identified. In around 95% of testicular cancer diagnoses the cancer originates in the germ cells, which are the cells that the body uses to make sperm.

Germ cell testicular cancer can also be sub-classified as seminomas or non-seminomas. The former applies to around 50% of cases, whilst the latter can be broken down further into teratomas, choriocarcinomas, embryonal carcinomas, and yolk sac tumours.

There are also several other, less common, types of testicular cancer, including Leydig cell tumours which account for around 1% to 3% of cases; Sertoli cell tumours which apply to around 1% of cases; and lymphoma which accounts for approximately 4% of cases.

If you present to your GP with symptoms of testicular cancer, they should perform a physical examination which may also involve holding a small light against the testicles. If the light is unable to pass through any lumps in the testicles, it can indicate that the lumps are cancerous.

Following your visit to the GP, you should be referred urgently for further testing, which will usually involve the following tests:

• Blood tests
• Scrotal ultrasound
• Physical examination of the testicles and scrotum
• Tissue biopsy to examine part of the tumour

The type of treatment prescribed will typically depend on the type of cancer you’re suffering from, and the stage the cancer is at. The first step in treating testicular cancer is usually to remove the affected testicle, an operation known as an orchidectomy. After this, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be used to prevent the cancer from returning.

If your testicular cancer has progressed and spread unduly because your GP didn’t carry out the appropriate checks or failed to refer you for further testing, or the hospital didn’t perform the necessary testing, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Here at Lanyon Bowdler we have helped many people in the same situation as yourself to seek justice and claim what they deserve after negligent testicular cancer treatment.

There is no definitive way to predetermine whether a person will develop testicular cancer or not, however there are certain groups of men who have a greater risk of developing the disease than others, including:

• Those who have undescended testicles and have not had this corrected during early childhood, either naturally or via an orchidopexy procedure, are approximately three times more likely to develop testicular cancer later in life.
• Men who have a close relative with testicular cancer, or a family history of the disease, have an increased risk as geneticists have identified certain genes that can play a part in the development of testicular cancer.
• Those who have previously experienced testicular cancer in one testicle are around four to 12 times more likely to develop cancer in the other testicle also.

Of course, the risk factors don’t always mean that these men will definitely develop testicular cancer, but if you fall into one of the higher risk groups your GP should be aware of this and should act accordingly if you present with symptoms. Failure to refer a patient for further testing can constitute medical negligence, and you may be able to claim compensation. Please speak to us here at Lanyon Bowdler and our team will be happy to advise you.

Being diagnosed with testicular cancer can be an incredibly worrying time for you and your family, and if it later transpires your condition has been made worse due to medical negligence there can be devastating and life changing consequences, including:

• The cancer spreads to other parts of your body
• Treatment becomes more complicated and invasive
• You may have to undergo surgery that could have been avoided
• Treatment and recovery take a longer time, meaning additional time off work
• You may need to seek private medical assistance at your own expense
• If misdiagnosis leads to both testicles being removed (bilateral orchidectomy) you will require lifelong testosterone replacement therapy
• A bilateral orchidectomy leads to infertility so you should be advised to store your sperm beforehand
• Failure to collect and store your sperm properly will remove your ability to biologically father a child in the future
• The cancer may progress so far as becoming incurable

If you have suffered any negative consequences as a result of a testicular cancer misdiagnosis, your compensation award will take this into account. For example, if you have had to take more time off work than initially expected, you can claim compensation for the loss of earnings.

If you’d like to find out more information about making a compensation claim following testicular cancer negligence, or simply wish to speak to someone to gain some advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly and professional medical negligence team. We will guide you through the entire process, providing transparent information throughout. We are on your team, and we are here to help you to seek justice and claim compensation.