Yes. If your breast cancer was misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late due to negligent care, you may be entitled to claim compensation from the NHS. This could involve a GP failing to refer you, delayed action after a breast lump was found, or imaging results being misinterpreted.

If this caused harm – such as a reduced chance of recovery, more extensive surgery, or the need for aggressive treatment – you could have a valid claim. These cases are handled by NHS Resolution, the organisation that manages legal claims on behalf of NHS trusts.

The amount of compensation depends on how the delay or misdiagnosis affected your health, prognosis and everyday life. A successful claim can cover:

• General damages: For pain, suffering, and the emotional impact of what you’ve been through.
• Special damages: Including loss of earnings, private treatment costs, therapy, care needs, and travel or accommodation expenses related to your treatment.

If your cancer progressed significantly or your life expectancy was affected, six-figure compensation is not uncommon. We’ll work with medical and financial experts to ensure your needs are fully accounted for.

Yes, you can make a claim on behalf of a loved one if they:

• Are under the age of 18.
• Lack mental capacity to pursue a claim themselves.
• Have passed away due to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment.

In these situations, we’ll guide you through the process step by step, ensuring everything is handled with care and sensitivity.

Early detection is key to successfully treating breast cancer. If there is a delay in diagnosis or a mistake during screening, it can allow the cancer to grow, spread or require far more intensive treatment than would otherwise have been necessary.

You may be entitled to compensation if your condition worsened because a GP, radiologist or consultant failed to act on your symptoms or refer you promptly. We regularly support clients whose cancer was picked up too late, and help them understand their legal rights and the support available.

A false diagnosis of breast cancer can be deeply traumatic. You may have undergone unnecessary procedures – such as biopsies, surgery or even chemotherapy – and faced weeks or months of emotional distress.

Even after the error is corrected, the physical and psychological effects can last. If the misdiagnosis happened because of a clinical error, you may be eligible for compensation to reflect both the harm done and the disruption to your life.

Research revealed the startling finding that 4 out of every 10 people diagnosed with cancer have been misdiagnosed at least once before the disease was correctly identified.

While exact figures vary depending on the study and cancer type, research consistently shows that a significant proportion of cancer cases are initially missed, mistaken for something else, or diagnosed later than they should be.

Breast cancer is one of the most frequently misdiagnosed forms of cancer. Its symptoms are sometimes mistaken for less serious conditions, such as:

• Fibroadenomas or benign lumps.
• Cysts or mastitis linked to hormonal changes.
• Muscle strain or inflammation causing breast pain.