Miss P presented to her GP with a history of a breast lump, increasing in size and becoming painful. Miss P was referred to the breast clinic.
Clinical notes from the breast clinic recorded the reason for referral being right breast lumpiness. Examination recorded mild capsular contracture with mild nodularity of the right breast. She underwent mammograms that were reported as normal. It was noted that fine needle aspiration (FNA) would be required, though this was not undertaken.
An examination in did not include an ultrasound of the lump. The Defendant wrote to the Miss P’s GP – noting the history – concluding that there was normal breast tissue.
Two years later, Miss P attended her GP again, reporting an increase in the size of the lump, which a breast clinic diagnosed as breast cancer shortly afterwards.
As a result of the cancer and its treatment Miss P suffered ongoing pain in her joints requiring regular opioid analgesics. She suffered from extreme fatigue in part due to her pain, which meant her sleep was routinely disturbed – exacerbated by her strong pain medication.
Her work life was also affected because the treatment has affected her memory and concentration, as well as fatigue and anxiety.
Our investigation
We obtained independent expert evidence from a breast cancer specialist, who advised that had an ultrasound been offered during her initial clinic assessment, a 1cm tumour would have been identified. Miss P would have subsequently received a less invasive form of treatment and would not have experienced the symptoms that she went on to develop.
Financial Settlement
Miss P’s case was settled for a financial sum and letter of apology. Whilst this sum will not return Miss P’s quality of life, it will help her obtain assistance with tasks that she is unfortunately no longer able to complete herself.