'Silent' cancer has staggering misdiagnosis rates - what experts want patients to know

By Samantha Leathers, Lifestyle Reporter

Early warning signs of pancreatic cancer can be misdiagnosed as a number of other ailments (Image: GETTY)

Kate Sweeney, Head of Clinical Negligence at Simpson Millar, dubbed pancreatic cancer a "silent cancer" due to its subtle early warning signs that are frequently missed, misinterpreted, or wrongly diagnosed as other conditions.

Pancreatic cancer ranks as the 10th most common cancer in the UK, with nearly half of those affected being over the age of 75.

The specialist is calling for increased awareness of the disease's early symptoms, stressing that "early diagnosis is key". However, this is challenging when both patients and healthcare professionals may not connect the dots quickly enough.

Symptoms are often mistaken for other ailments such as pancreatitis, IBS, muscular pain, gallbladder disease, or ulcers, as per Pancreatic Cancer Action.

Key early indicators to watch for include persistent abdominal or back pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, digestive issues, and a loss of appetite.

The clinical negligence expert is sounding the alarm on the dangers of pancreatic cancer, warning that if undetected, it can lead to additional severe health issues such as diabetes, blood clots, and indigestion.

She emphasised the importance of regular health checks at home and seeking immediate medical advice if early warning signs are noticed: "Performing regular health checks at home and seeking prompt medical advice for these symptoms could significantly improve outcomes for those affected."

She pointed out that delayed diagnoses can also be caused by administrative blunders, including failure to act on test results, track patient progress, or accurately report scans.

Kate is calling on patients to take charge of their health, especially given the long NHS wait times and concerns about not being taken seriously by doctors often leads to people delaying GP visits until their symptoms become too severe to ignore.

She cautioned: "If you are worried about your health and feel dismissed by your doctor, it’s important to stand firm: ask questions, push for answers, seek a second opinion. Early detection can save lives, but only if patients feel heard and their symptoms are properly investigated."

The specialist underlined her particular expertise, stating: "Medical professionals have a duty of care. When this duty is not upheld, patients can suffer serious harm. If we can prove that your cancer wasn’t diagnosed early enough or that you were given the wrong diagnosis, you could claim cancer misdiagnosis compensation which could help you to access specialist treatment not available on the NHS."