Delayed diagnosis and treatment of oesophageal cancer

At the beginning of 2021, Mr T started to have difficulty swallowing solid food (“dysphagia”) and had some reflux (when stomach acid flows up towards the throat).  He had an gastroscopy (when a camera is inserted into stomach and digestive organs to check for abnormalities) in March 2021 which identified a hiatus hernia (when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity) and management of his symptoms were based on this finding.

Mr T’s symptoms continued despite treatment.  His difficulty swallowing solid food worsened, he started to experience voice hoarseness, and he experienced significant weight loss between March and November 2021.  

In November 2021, Mr T had further tests and was diagnosed with Stage 4 oesophageal cancer for which he received chemotherapy and immunotherapy until he sadly died in February 2024.

We investigated Mr T’s case and found that there was a failure to identify signs of oesophageal cancer during the March 2021 gastroscopy.  Had the cancer been diagnosed at that point, Mr T would have commenced chemotherapy in April / May 2021, and this would have led to easing / resolution of his swallowing difficulties, prevented the development of his voice hoarseness and prevented the significant weight loss which occurred between March and November 2021.  

Mr T’s prognosis (and treatment) would not have altered with earlier diagnosis due to the advanced stage of the cancer when the gastroscopy took place in early 2021.  Therefore, we negotiated a settlement on Mr T’s behalf to reflect the additional and avoidable pain, suffering and loss of quality of life that he suffered between March and November 2021.