Woman Underwent Unnecessary Treatment And Reconstructive Surgery

A mother from Stoke-on-Trent who has been left “traumatised” following a cancer misdiagnosis and subsequent surgery has spoken out about her concerns for the future.

Sarah Boyle, now 28, was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the end of 2016 at the age of 25, with medical doctors outlining how the condition was uncommon for a woman of her age. 

Sarah underwent extensive treatment, which included chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. However, in June 2017, she was informed by her treating doctor, Mr Narayanan, that her biopsy had been incorrectly reported and it was confirmed that she did not have cancer.

Following the news, Sarah instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the case.  The legal experts secured an admission of liability from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust regarding the failings and are now working to ensure that Sarah gets the support she needs to move on with her life. 

She also has further concerns following reports that the breast implants she was given as part of her reconstructive surgery may potentially put her at risk of developing cancer in the future.

Expert Opinion

“This is a truly shocking case in which a young mother has faced heartbreaking news and a gruelling period of extensive treatment, only to be told that it was not necessary.

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.

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. Understandably, Sarah has a number of questions that need to be answered with regards to this and it has caused her significant distress.”
Sarah Sharples - Senior Associate Solicitor

Sarah lives in Stoke-on-Trent with Teddy, Louis and her husband of five years, Steven, 31.

She has suffered significant psychological trauma as a result of what she has been through, and also continues to endure ongoing symptoms caused by her treatment.

She was also initially told that her cancer treatment may lead to fertility issues, but fortunately she has gone on to have a second child, Louis, who is now seven-months-old.  However, she was unable to breastfeed him due to her treatment.

Sarah said: “The past few years have been incredibly difficult for me and my family.  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 traumatising.

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

“As if that 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 and I am also worried about complications that I may face because of my chemotherapy.

“While nothing will change what I’ve been through, I really need some answers on what is being done to make sure nobody else suffers in the same way I have.”

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling medical negligence cases