Testicular and Prostate Cancer Claims

Charity Movember state that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Prostate cancer is often diagnosed following a finding of an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in testing by a GP. Symptoms can include an increasing need to urinate and finding it hard to pass urine.

Testicular cancer is less common but is the most common type of cancer in young men. The prognosis tends to be good if found and treated early.  Symptoms can include pain or aching in the testicles and swelling or a lump. Most types of testicular cancer start in the cells that make sperm (germ cells). The main types of germ cell cancers are seminomas and non-seminomas. Treatment decisions and the chances of recovery depend on the kind of cancer and the type of cell it starts in.

There can be difficulties in diagnosing both prostate cancer and testicular cancer as the symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from less serious illnesses. Some common misdiagnoses of prostate cancer for example include an enlarged prostate, urinary tract infections and prostatitis.

When a doctor misses the early signs of cancer it can lead to a worse outcome than there should have been.

If there is a delay or failure by a GP or other medical professional to undertake a proper examination, make a suitable referral for suspected cancer or to provide follow up tests then there may be a legal claim if the cancer is more difficult to treat, or there has been an impact on survival prospects, as a result of the delay in diagnosis. Short delays may not be sufficient to show that the outcome was affected. In some instances, a delay in diagnosis can mean that the testes or prostate gland have to be removed and that more aggressive treatments in terms of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy are required.