Breast Cancer Delayed Diagnosis Claim Blackburn

Ms H was awarded £100,000.00 for the delay in diagnosis of breast cancer and the failure to offer less intrusive treatment once her breast cancer was diagnosed.

Ms H’s diagnosis of breast cancer was delayed by 10 months. Once Ms H was diagnosed with cancer, she underwent surgery to her right breast in 2016 and further surgery in her left breast in 2018.

The surgical procedures offered to Ms H were intrusive and it was admitted by the Defendant Ms H should have been offered less intrusive surgery. 

The Defendant admitted that a right therapeutic mammoplasty (otherwise described as a wide local excision within a breast reduction procedure) should have been offered following the results of the MRI scan of her right breast in October 2016.

The Defendant also admitted that in April 2018, the incorrect level of risk of developing cancer in the left breast was posed to Ms H. She was informed that her level of risk was in the region of 1 in 3 and should have been informed that this was in the region of 1 in 6. As such, Ms H was unable to make an informed decision about her treatment options in respect of this breast.

It is admitted that in these circumstances, a left therapeutic mammoplasty (otherwise described as a wide local excision within a breast reduction procedure) should have been offered.

The Defendant further admitted that if Ms H had been offered and opted to undergo a right therapeutic mammoplasty and a left therapeutic mammoplasty, she would have avoided undergoing more extensive and complex implant-based breast reconstructive surgeries. She would also have achieved better symmetry of breast shape and volume and overall cosmesis.

Our independent Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon confirmed that a breast conservation procedure (in the form of a therapeutic mammoplasty) with a contralateral breast reduction should have been offered as a reasonable option compared to a mastectomy. This would have treated Ms H’s small cancer adequately, reduced her future risk and provided her with a better cosmetic outcome and body image, compared to obviously difficult implant-based reconstructions that she had. 

As a result of the negligence, Ms H has had to undergo more extensive surgery than she needed from a cancer point of view and was less likely to achieve a good cosmetic outcome and breast symmetry.

Further to this, Ms H has had to undergo additional surgical procedures including lipofilling operation to the right breast in an attempt to improve symmetry. Ms H will also need to undergo further surgeries in the future including reconstructive surgery and surgery to exchange the tissue expander for the implant and two further reconstructive breast procedures.

Ms H also suffered psychologically as a result of the negligence. 

Ms H has stated the following about her experience using Sheldon Davidson Solicitors; 

‘I am extremely happy with the service provided at Sheldon Davidson Solicitors. I was always kept informed every step of the way during my claim and everything was explained to me very well and in lots of detail. I felt that the advice I received was very good and Demi was always there to help me and assist me with any questions that I had. Everything I went through was very difficult and I found that the Solicitors at Sheldon Davidson understood this and were very supportive. I cannot thank Demi enough for everything.’

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Contact our specialist medical negligence solicitors, if you have been affected in any way due to a delay in diagnosis. Our lawyers are cancer negligence claims experts and we can help you wherever you live in Wales, England

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