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Woman Misdiagnosed With Breast Cancer Undergoes Unnecessary Mastectomy

NTD Newsroom
By NTD Newsroom
July 20, 2019International
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Woman Misdiagnosed With Breast Cancer Undergoes Unnecessary Mastectomy
Medical care staff takes notes. (stock photo via videoblocks)

Sarah Boyle, 28, was incorrectly diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer after she was having problems feeding her baby.

The medical mistake dictated that she needed chemotherapy and subsequent reconstructive surgery, reported BBC.

Boyle is an English native from Stroke-on-Trent.

“Being told I had cancer was awful, but then to go through all of the treatment and surgery to then be told it was unnecessary was traumatizing,” she said.

Boyle said that life had been “incredibly difficult” for her and her husband and their two sons since she was told she needed the treatments.

After she perceived that her 6-month-old son Teddy was having trouble when she tried to breastfeed him, she went to Royal Stoke Hospital where she was scanned and had a biopsy. Boyle was then told she had breast cancer and needed treatment.

“Ultimately the misreporting of the biopsy was a human error,” said a spokesperson for the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the hospital.

The NHS Trust has admitted liability and apologized, however, legal proceedings are continuing.

Boyle was concerned because this meant that she couldn’t breastfeed her second infant, Louis, who is 7 months old. She is also worried about future health complications, in particular, actually developing cancer because of the inopportune treatments, reported The Telegraph.

“And while I was delighted when I gave birth to Louis, it was really heartbreaking when I couldn’t breastfeed him,” said Boyle.

The horrific incident occurred when Boyle was 25 years old.

“As if [being unable to breastfeed] wasn’t bad enough, I am now worried about the possibility of actually developing cancer in the future because of the type of implants I have,” she told The Telegraph. “I am also worried about complications that I may face because of my chemotherapy.”

In a statement by a spokesperson from the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust, obtained by The Telegraph, the hospital apologized and said that the erred diagnosis was caused by “human error.”

They mentioned as well that now all cancer diagnoses are revised by a second pathologist before asserting the results.

“A misdiagnosis of this kind is exceptionally rare and we understand how devastating this has been for Sarah and her family,” the spokesperson said. “Ultimately the misreporting of the biopsy was a human error so as an extra safeguard all invasive cancer diagnoses are now reviewed by a second pathologist.”

Boyle’s representing attorney, Sarah Sharples, told The Telegraph that they hope this incident will help stop the possibility of a similar situation occurring on another person.

“This is a truly shocking case in which a young mother has faced heartbreaking news and a grueling period of extensive treatment, only to be told that it was not necessary,” Sharples told the medium. “The entire experience has had a huge impact on Sarah in many ways.”

“While we welcome that the NHS Trust has admitted to the clear failings, we are yet to hear if any improvements have been put in place to prevent something like this happening again,” Sharples continued.

“We are also deeply concerned following reports surrounding the type of implants Sarah has, with suspicions over their potential link to a rare form of cancer,” she said.

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