Skin Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

There are two primary categories of skin cancer: non-melanoma (the most common) and melanoma. According to the NHS, symptoms of non-melanoma are as follows:

• Growth or unusual patch on the skin anywhere on the body

• A growth that’s getting bigger or changing in colour or texture 

• A growth or area of skin that itches, bleeds, hurts, crusts, or scabs for more than 4 weeks

According to the NHS, symptoms of melanoma are:

• A new mole anywhere on the body

• A change in an existing mole

• A mole with an uneven shape or edges

• A mole with a mix of colours 

• A large mole

• Moles that are swollen, sore, itchy, bleeding, or crusty

• A dark area under the nail that has not been caused by injury

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and they aren’t usual for you, speak to your GP as soon as possible.

According to the NHS, the main symptoms are as follows:

• The whites of your eyes or skin turn yellow (jaundice)

• Itchy skin

• Darker pee and paler poo

• Loss of appetite or losing weight without wanting to 

• Feeling tired or having low energy 

• A high temperature, or feeling hot, cold, or shivery

• Feeling or being sick

• Changes in your poo

• Pain at the top of your tummy or back, which may worsen when eating or lying down, and better when you lean forward

• Symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling bloated 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and they aren’t normal for you, speak to your GP as soon as possible.

According to Macmillan, there are three main types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. 

The latter is melanoma, which is less common and more serious, and the others are non-melanoma forms of skin cancer, which are more common and easily treated when caught early. 

Melanoma is treated differently from non-melanoma types of skin cancer.

A skin cancer misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider fails to diagnose, leading to a missed, incorrect, or delayed diagnosis of skin cancer.

Sometimes this is unavoidable, but other times, when a healthcare provider's actions fall below the expected duty of care, it may be considered medical negligence, meaning the additional harm caused by the misdiagnosis could have been prevented.

If you think you or a loved one has suffered a skin cancer diagnosis delay due to medical negligence, please contact our team of specialist lawyers, and we'll do all we can to help.

Yes, it's possible to claim for someone else who is unable to do so themselves. The most common examples are:

• Claiming for a child: Children can't legally claim themselves until they reach 18, so a parent or legal guardian can do this for them. If a settlement is not reached sooner, the child has until their 21st birthday to claim.

• Claiming on behalf of someone with limited mental capacity: A loved one can make a claim on their behalf, and there is usually no time limit in these cases.

• Claiming on behalf of a deceased relative: If your loved one died due to a cancer misdiagnosis, you can pursue a claim for them. Alternatively, if your loved one subsequently dies as a result of other causes, it may be possible to make a claim on behalf of their Estate for the lifetime effects of the medical negligence.

When you decide to make a skin cancer misdiagnosis claim, our first step is to listen carefully to your experience and gather the details of what happened. 

We’ll then review your medical records and seek expert opinions to determine whether your misdiagnosis occurred because the care you received fell below expected standards, which directly caused your condition to worsen.

If we believe you have a strong case, we’ll guide you through the claims process. 

In many cases, claims are settled without the need to go to court. If your case does proceed further, we’ll represent you at every stage. 

Throughout the process, our aim is to make things as straightforward as possible, keeping you informed and supporting you from start to finish.

In the UK, you generally have three years to make misdiagnosed cancer claims, which is why you need to proceed as soon as you can. The three years will start from the date of the misdiagnosis or from the date you became aware of it—whichever is later.

There are exceptions to this rule, though. For example, if the claimant lacks mental capacity, there tends to be no time limit. A child has three years from their 18th birthday to bring a claim themselves, meaning the limit extends to their 21st birthday.

To help you understand your specific time limit, get in touch with our team today and get the ball rolling.

Because of the varying circumstances that are specific to you, there is no fixed average payout for a skin cancer misdiagnosis claim. 

Medical negligence cancer payouts are based on the severity of the claim.

If you think you might have a skin cancer misdiagnosis claim, but are not completely sure, you can get in touch with our lawyers today. They'll be able to advise you on whether or not you can make a claim.

Misdiagnosed cancer claims can usually be made if the claimant can prove they received a misdiagnosis due to a healthcare provider's medical negligence, and that directly caused their condition to worsen or caused them to undergo further unnecessary treatment.

In a skin cancer misdiagnosis claim, you need to first prove that there was a breach of duty of care that led to a skin cancer misdiagnosis and further suffering that could have been avoided.

Your lawyer will talk you through any physical evidence, like your medical records, you need to make a claim, and they will research issues raised if necessary.

Yes, you can sue the NHS if their duty of care fell below standard expectations, and that resulted in a skin cancer misdiagnosis, which caused further suffering to the patient.

You can do this through our team of expert lawyers here at Nash & Co Solicitors. For more information on how you can make a claim, contact us today, and we'll do what we can to help.

We completely understand if you feel this way, given the problems the NHS is facing in our current climate.

However, a body called NHS Resolution handles claims against the health authority. The government set up this organisation to handle compensation claims.

NHS Resolution is an arm’s-length body of the Department of Health & Social Care and essentially acts as an insurance provider for NHS Trusts and GPs. Every year, each Trust will pay an amount to NHS Resolution, just like you do for car or home insurance.

When a successful claim is made, NHS Resolution makes the compensation payout on behalf of the Trust or GP concerned. This means your claim won’t take money away from other patients being treated by that Trust or GP. 

If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

If you don’t think you’re getting the level of service or satisfactory advice from your current solicitor, we’d be happy to discuss switching your case to Nash & Co Solicitors. Just call our team on 01752 827085 or contact us online.