November marks Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing understanding of the disease and awareness of its symptoms to ensure early diagnosis. Around 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK every year.
What Is Pancreatic Cancer?
The pancreas is a large gland that helps the body digest food and produces hormones, including insulin. Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in the pancreas grow abnormally and form a tumour.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest and least understood forms of cancer, and over 45% of cases occur in individuals aged 75 and over.
Learn more from Pancreatic Cancer UK and local support groups in your community, Cancer Support Lincolnshire.
What Are Some of the Potential Symptoms?
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:
- Pain and discomfort in the upper part of your abdomen, which can sometimes spreads to your back
- Indigestion
- Unexplained weight loss
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes)
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in stool
- Nausea
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should seek prompt medical advice from your GP. Early diagnosis could make a difference to the treatment you need and the outcome from that treatment.
Medical Negligence and Pancreatic Cancer
Sadly, medical negligence cases can occur due to one or more of the following factors:
- Failure to identify possible symptoms of pancreatic cancer
- Delayed referral to a specialist
- Misdiagnosis
- Lack of adequate follow-up care and treatment
If you or a loved one has experienced delays or errors in cancer diagnosis, legal support may be available.
How our Medical Negligence Team at Bridge McFarland LLP can help
If you, or a loved one has experienced delays in cancer diagnosis or treatment of pancreatic cancer, our medical negligence solicitors at Bridge McFarland LLP are here to support you and provide legal guidance.
Please seek the answers you deserve, and telephone our experienced medical negligence team on 0800 987 8800, or make a free online enquiry here and we will contact you. Alternatively, email us at medneg@bmcf.co.uk.