Brain Tumour Awareness Month: The Brain Tumour Charity's campaign for faster diagnosis

Currently, the charity's research shows that one in six respondents (17%) has to wait more than six months for a diagnosis, with one in 10 (11%) waiting more than a year.

Clearly, faster diagnosis should mean earlier treatment including surgery that can be lifesaving or certainly life prolonging. It also means an ongoing treatment and care plan can be put in place quickly, essential for someone experiencing the terrible stress of not knowing what is wrong with them.

With low grade gliomas, there is evidence that earlier surgery can lead to higher survival rates and certainly, for some people diagnosed with low grade brain tumours, faster diagnosis can prevent irreversible disabilities.

The possibility that faster diagnosis can also mean fewer symptoms in turn helps those affected tolerate surgery and other treatments better, meaning fewer serious side-effects. Waiting for diagnosis also reduces trust in a healthcare system that must be relied on for further treatment and care. The mental and physical strain of waiting for a diagnosis can never be underestimated.

My colleagues and I tend to become involved with people suffering from a brain tumour where delays in diagnosis have severely worsened their condition or indeed has proven fatal, whereby we represent their family experiencing the most terrible tragedy.

Samantha Critchley represented a woman who was left brain damaged following a delayed diagnosis at Maidstone General District Hospital after she went to A&E having collapsed with violent headache and vomiting. Because the brain tumour was not diagnosed as quickly as it should have been, there was a delay in transferring her to King's College Hospital where she did eventually receive emergency treatment that could not prevent the brain damage.

Her husband made the comment about his wife: 'You're so lucky to be able to open your eyes and see the sunshine in the morning. All her wishes, all of her hopes, no longer exist. They cannot be fulfilled.'

Similarly, I currently represent a child who has been left with severe cognitive impairment and will need ongoing support and assistance his whole life. He lacks voluntary coordination of muscle movements and has impaired vision and will never live independently or enjoy paid employment. Currently, his parents care for him at home.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust admitted breach of duty around his care and that with appropriate care and earlier diagnosis, his outcome would have been better.

While we value the full amount of settlement needed, we have received a small interim payment only from the defendant while we assess the full nature and extent of his injuries. Read the full case here.

Meanwhile, I also represent a teenage girl diagnosed with a low grade astrocytoma following an alleged negligent delay by the optometrist, GP and the hospital involved in recognising and investigating symptoms. This resulted in a nine-month delay in diagnosis. 

I have also just reached a liability settlement for a child whose brain tumour was misdiagnosed on histology leading to unnecessary radiotherapy and chemotherapy which has resulted in severe injuries including cognitive impairment and a hemiparesis.  That case is now being quantified

Working with these children and their families makes me even more determined to support this campaign to raise awareness of the vital need for quick and efficient diagnosis of brain tumours.

Contact us

For further information about neurology claims and delayed diagnosis claims, please call Julia Hamilton on 03304606780 or email julia.hamilton@fieldfisher.com.

Alternatively

• You can speak to our medical negligence solicitors on freephone 0800 358 3848
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All enquiries are completely free of charge and we will investigate all funding options for you including no win, no fee. Find our more about no win no fee claims.