Teenager issues warning after Stage 4 cancer misdiagnosed as ‘growing pains’

A teenager is urging young people to “be persistent” with their doctors after her cancer symptoms were initially thought to be ‘growing pains’.

Alessia, 16 was eventually diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin lymphoma after she had experienced painful joints and felt excessively tired. However, she is now warning other youngsters to ‘get checked’ and trust their instincts if they are questioning their health or diagnosis.

Statistics from The Teenage Cancer Trust said seven young people aged between 13 and 24 were diagnosed with cancer each day in the UK. But, concerningly, the NHS National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2022 revealed that 47% of people diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 16 and 24 had seen a primary care professional three or more times before being diagnosed.

Alessia was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, but, although it is one of the most common cancers found in that age group, getting a diagnosis can be difficult.

Alessia said she started getting “really tired, barely having any energy or motivation” and pains in her joints which were “getting worse over time”.

Symptoms are often mistaken for growing pains or infections, an NHS Trust said.

Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms

Swelling in the neck, armpit or groin is most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma. The swelling is usually painless, although some people find that it aches.

The swelling is caused by an excess of affected lymphocytes (white blood cells) collecting in a lymph node (also called lymph glands). Lymph nodes are pea-sized lumps of tissue found throughout the body. They contain white blood cells that help to fight infection.

However, it’s highly unlikely that you have Hodgkin lymphoma if you have swollen lymph nodes, as these glands often swell as a response to infection.

Other symptoms

• Night sweats
• Unintentional weight loss
• A high temperature (fever)
• A persistent cough or feeling of breathlessness
• Persistent itching of the skin all over the body

Delays and misdiagnosis claims

If a medical professional fails to diagnose a health condition when they should have done or fails to refer you for investigations, this could lead to the worsening of your condition without necessary treatment.

This can include delays in referrals, scans and other investigations. It can also include medical professionals overlooking symptoms or records that are re-reviewed at a later date and urgently acted upon once the delay has been identified.

If you have suffered because of their negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the damages.

Medical negligence claims

Medical negligence is when a healthcare professional fails to provide a patient with adequate and appropriate care, leading to avoidable harm.

For a claimant to succeed in a negligence claim, three conditions must be met:

1. Claimant is owed a duty of care by the defendant
2. That defendant breached that duty by failing to exercise reasonable care
3. The breach of duty caused the claimant’s injuries, and those injuries are not too remote.

Who can make a claim?

Claims of this nature are subject to a three-year limitation period. This means claims must be commenced within the Courts within three years of either the date the negligent act occurred or the date you became aware that negligence had occurred.

In cases involving deceased victims, this limitation period commences from the date of death and in cases involving minors, the limitation period starts when they reach their 18th birthday.

The law surrounding limitation periods is complex – our specialist team will be able to advise further.

How much compensation will I get?

It is often difficult to value Negligence claims at their outset, given the complexities involved however we will pursue two forms of compensation for you:

• General damages – An award of money for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the negligence.
• Special damages – An award for all of your out-of-pocket expenses such as travel expenses, medication costs, loss of earnings, and treatment costs both past and future.

This list is not exhaustive and is very case-specific. Our specialist team will be able to advise further.

Why should I use Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

We have a dedicated team of solicitors and paralegals who have many years’ experience between them in running cases of this nature. They are highly trained to deal with all aspects of clinical and medical negligence.

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd wishes to ensure that clients are not overwhelmed by legal jargon or medical terms that they don’t understand and aims to allow the claims procedure to be as transparent as possible.

Further reading

Medical misdiagnosis or delay – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.