Woman, 28, found out too late that lump on her breast was cancerous

In late 2016, Charlotte noticed a round lump on her right breast that ached and changed in size when she menstruated. 

In February 2017 she attended the Balance Street Health Centre in Uttoxeter and was seen by a GP who advised that the lump she had noticed was a cyst that would likely disappear. 

Charlotte was seen again by the GP in March 2017 and queried why the lump on her breast was still present. She was again reassured that the lump was a cyst – but if it continued to cause discomfort, she could be referred to have it drained.

Charlotte attended a further consultation with the GP in September 2018. She mentioned that the lump on her breast had grown in size and was causing her more pain than it did previously. She also stated that she could feel a second lump close by and requested a referral to have them drained.

As a result, Charlotte attended the Breast Clinic at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton in late October 2018 and was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer.

She underwent a right mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy a month later and had 6 cycles of chemotherapy which she completed in 2019. She then underwent radiotherapy shortly after.

Had a referral been made in February or March 2017, when she initially sought medical advice, Charlotte would have undergone a clinical assessment and breast imaging sooner. 

As a result of the negligence admitted by the GP, there was a delay in diagnosing and treating Charlotte’s breast cancer, and by the time she was treated in 2018, her cancer was more extensive than it was in 2017.

This meant she needed to undergo chest wall radiotherapy and couldn’t have an immediate breast reconstruction which added to the trauma of her diagnosis and treatment.

The Covid-19 pandemic pushed back Charlotte’s contralateral risk reduction mastectomy (the removal of the unaffected breast to prevent contralateral breast cancer) which she underwent in 2021. She is still waiting for a breast reconstruction following this surgery.

To look into her case, Charlotte instructed Lauren Tully, a partner in the Leigh Day clinical negligence department. Lauren was able to demonstrate that the GP Charlotte saw in 2017 had missed key opportunities to examine her breasts and refer her to a specialist – which would have likely seen Charlotte diagnosed with breast cancer and start treatment much sooner.

Charlotte’s career was negatively impacted by the timing of her diagnosis and her more extensive treatment and she missed out on promotion because she had only just returned to work when the opportunity arose.  Lauren undertook a detailed analysis of the impact this had, and would continue to have, on Charlotte’s income and pension. 

The medical professional admitted liability for causing the delay that led to Charlotte’s late diagnosis and delayed treatment, and a £215,000 settlement was agreed for Charlotte.

Lauren Tully, clinical negligence partner at Leigh Day, said: 

“Charlotte had to suffer because of the negligent medical advice she received.

“I am incredibly pleased to be able to help Charlotte – but know that nothing can make up for the impact the delay has had on every aspect of her life.  

“I sincerely hope that lessons have been learned from Charlotte’s case.”