Woman Had Lymph Nodes And Breast Tissue Removed, Leaving Her With Permanent Scars

A mum-of-five who was mistakenly diagnosed with breast cancer and needlessly underwent surgery will speak out about her ordeal on ITV Tonight.

After Lisa Brewer, 45, from Essex, found a lump in her breast, doctors at Broomfield Hospital told her she had grade-two breast cancer.

She had lymph nodes and breast tissue removed in March 2016, leaving her with permanent scars. But weeks later, the hospital realised it had swapped her clear biopsy with that of a woman who had cancer, who was mistakenly given the all-clear.

Lisa instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the mistake and take action against the hospital to ensure the blunder could not happen again.

Lisa said: “I didn’t feel relieved. You can’t just shut emotions off like that.

“Having to tell people I’d told I had cancer [that] I don’t have it – I felt like a fraud.”

Broomfield Hospital in Essex apologised, saying lab staff were “stressed” and under “pressure to meet deadlines” It says changes have been made to procedures.

Fiona Strachan, an expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Lisa, said: “Lisa has been incredibly courageous in coming forward to speak about what has been a traumatic time in her life, in the hopes that no one else suffers a similar ordeal. 

“Not only has Lisa undergone treatment based on this incorrect diagnosis, but she has struggled to come to terms with the emotional impact of such a severe mistake.

"We are currently investigating Lisa’s case and we hope that lessons can be learned to ensure this horrendous error cannot happen again.”

NHS Medical Blunders Revealed is on ITV ’s Tonight show at 7.30pm.