Concerns That Issue Resulted In ‘Delay In Diagnosis Of Cancer’

A Hereford woman who underwent a hysterectomy following a diagnosis of cervical cancer has instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers to investigate after an NHS Trust admitted that the issue could have potentially been identified six years earlier.

The 47-year-old mum-of-two had undergone regularly smear tests until 2012. That year she underwent a smear test and was told that the results were negative. While family commitments meant she missed another test in 2015, she booked herself in for one in 2018 after she became concerned about bleeding.

Approximately five weeks later she was informed that she had cervical cancer, with a procedure subsequently being undertaken to remove her lymph nodes, ovaries, tubes, cervix and womb.

However, earlier this year she was called back to the hospital and informed that the results of the 2012 test were reported incorrectly and did indeed show evidence of cancer at that stage.

Following the news, the woman has now instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office to investigate her treatment and help her gain answers.

Expert Opinion

“Our client is understandably devastated by the recent revelations which have emerged regarding her treatment and we are now investigating all aspects of what she has been through.

“The issue of cervical cancer and the importance of smear tests is highly topical and it is very worrying that issues have seemingly emerged in this instance.

“However, it is important that there is not a loss of confidence in the screening programme and women continue to attend appointments.

“Early detection is key to beating cervical cancer and saving lives.” Jenna Harris - Partner

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling cervical cancer cases 

Since the cancer diagnosis and her subsequent surgery, the woman has suffered feelings of guilt and insecurity and required support from a counsellor. Furthermore, physical health problems arising after the surgery have also affected her ability to care for her elderly parents.

The woman said: “Being told I had cancer is something that I dealt with, it was something to face and fight through. What I could not believe, was being told that six years earlier my results were reported incorrectly and the way that it was handled was deplorable.

“I cannot fault the care I received following my diagnosis but I am still struggling to understand how it got to this point. I have a number of questions about whether things would have been different if my tests results in 2012 had been interpreted correctly.”