Date: 7 December 2011
Author: Sandra Patton

A report published in the British Journal of Cancer says that nearly half of cancers diagnosed in the UK each year, over 130,000 cancers in total, are caused by avoidable life choices including smoking, drinking and eating the wrong things. A further significant factor in the incidence of cancers is obesity, which continues to increase. Some cancers, like mouth and throat cancer, are caused almost entirely by lifestyle choices, says the report.

Sandra Patton, who heads the medical injury team at Ashton KCJ, says: “Clearly the more that is learnt about the causes of cancer and the steps that can be taken to prevent it the better. Part of our role as clinical negligence lawyers is also to encourage all doctors to take every step they can to ensure cancer is diagnosed and treated promptly. Unfortunately we still see many instances where people are either misdiagnosed or suffer delay in their diagnosis, often with devastating or fatal consequences.  We will be happy to advise anyone who finds themselves in this unfortunate situation.”