Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Personal Injury Solicitors

Cancer misdiagnosis for teenager told by GPs she had a sports injury (17 August 2015)

Date: 17/08/2015
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, Cancer misdiagnosis for teenager told by GPs she had a sports injury

A 16-year-old girl diagnosed as having a pulled muscle by her GP was later told by A&E doctors that she had the rare cancer Ewings Sarcoma.

The Daily Mail reports that Melissa Sutton from Rochdale in Lancashire went to her GP complaining of pain in her rib cage and shortness of breath. Her GP said she had she had pulled a muscle and prescribed painkillers. However, the pain became so bad Melissa was unable to sleep at night.

Over the course of three months, the teenager went to see her GP on ten occasions – however, each time she was told by various GPs that she had a sports injury. When the pain became severe, her mother Alison Brookes, 41, took her daughter to the local A&E department in Oldham where doctors discovered Melissa had a collapsed lung.

Scans also revealed the teenager was suffering from the rare bone cancer Ewing's Sarcoma

Melissa is undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, following surgery to four of her ribs.

Her mother says she and her daughter were “fobbed off” by GPs, who missed opportunities to diagnose her daughter's cancer sooner. Mrs Brookes has had to give up her job as a carer to look after her daughter full time.

“Melissa had pain in her left side for more than three months – but every time I took her to see our GP, she was told it could be a pulled muscle from a sports injury and we were sent away with Co-codamol, “ said Mrs Brookes.

“Our first appointment was in August 2014 – and at the time Melissa was very sporty. She did a lot of trampolining, so we had faith in the doctor's opinion at first – but soon the pain got so bad that she couldn't sleep at night.

“We were just fobbed off on more than ten occasions,” Mrs Brookes added. “We felt angry – Melissa felt as though she had been let down by her GP.

“I took Melissa back to visit the doctor time and time again – but they always said the same thing. We saw four different GPs at the same practice in at least ten separate medical appointments – and they all fobbed us off.

“Melissa would sit on the sofa crying in pain. She has never been one to moan or complain and it was awful to see her suffering. She felt as though no-one believed her.”

Melissa was taken to Oldham General Hospital when the pain became unbearable and was transferred to Manchester Children’s hospital for surgery. She has now had 12 chemotherapy sessions and will undergo a further three sessions and 30 sessions of radiotherapy.

Ewings Sarcoma mainly affects teenagers and young adults. Her mother is considering making a formal complaint to her GP practice.

The medical director for NHS England in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, Raj Patel, said:

“We would like our express our sympathy and concern for Alison and her family during what must be a distressing time for them.

“Our priority is to ensure that patients receive the highest quality primary care services at all times. We have not yet received a complaint by Alison or her family but should we do so, we will take the issue forward and investigate it thoroughly.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise patients whose cancer was misdiagnosed on how to make a no win no fee personal injury claim.

Personal injury claims for cancer misdiagnosis usually have to be made within three years of cancer being diagnosed.

Children can make cancer misdiagnosis claims up to the age of 21.

Duncan Lewis has offices nationwide and is also a leading Legal Aid solicitor.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


For all Personal Injury related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.