What is sarcoma?

A sarcoma is a rare form of cancer that affects around 5,300 people in the UK every year - around 1% of all cancer diagnoses in the country.

Sarcomas can form in any part of the body - bone and soft tissue - and, as a result, there are over 100 different types of sarcoma. However, they most commonly affect the arms, legs, torso, stomach and the female reproductive system.

According to the charity Sarcoma UK, the survival rate for sarcoma has been improving gradually over the past 20 years, but early diagnosis is an important factor.

Delayed diagnosis/misdiagnosis of sarcoma

Diagnosis of sarcoma usually takes place through a range of tests, which could include:

• Scans, which could be an MRI or CT scan, or an X-ray
• A clinical examination of a lump
• A bone scan
• A biopsy

However, because sarcomas are quite rare, they are sometimes misdiagnosed as something significantly less severe, like a muscle sprain or simple joint pain. This means a potentially dangerous delay in investigating the true cause of symptoms and appropriate treatment.

If your sarcoma was misdiagnosed or your diagnosis was delayed, and you feel this was caused by the negligence of a medical professional, we can help you understand if you are entitled to a compensation claim.

About Potter Rees Dolan

Potter Rees Dolan’s clinical negligence team has earned a reputation as one of the very best in the UK. With the Partners having a combined experience in serious injury law of over 60 years and comprehensive medical insight, the team has an unwavering dedication to helping families recover the compensation they deserve.

About Helen Dolan, head of the department, Chambers 2019 says: "Helen regularly handles complex claims, such as those related to psychiatric care. She has further expertise in spinal injury, surgical negligence and cerebral palsy claims, as well as breach of duty cases. One source states: 'Her attention to detail and knowledge of the case inside and out was exemplary.'"

The same publication said Lesley Herbertson “is very good on the complex details of the case and is able to translate this to clients."

Meanwhile, Gill Edwards is described as being "incredibly good with clients – they really warm to her - and very good on the medical details".

Additionally, Chambers 2019 calls our clinical negligence team as a whole a “well-regarded team with an impressive caseload of complex clinical negligence work” and says that sources highlight the "really nice, bespoke, high-quality" service we offer.

Our clients regularly tell us that it is the empathy and care with which we act that sets us apart. We specialise in serious and catastrophic injuries, so we know how difficult it can be to live with severe disability. It is our aim, therefore, to make the claims process as stress-free for you and your family as we can.

Funding

Most clinical negligence cases are funded on the basis of a “no win, no fee” agreement, otherwise known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. We can investigate your potential claim and you will not have to pay us a penny if your case is not successful. We will explain how a Conditional Fee Agreement works and obtain After the Event Insurance cover.

You may already have a legal expense insurance policy. In the first instance, we’ll always start by investigating whether you can use the same policy for your case, before considering whether a Conditional Fee Agreement may be more appropriate.