Cancer misdiagnosis leaves 30-year-old woman unable to have children

Our client

Our client, Stacey, discovered a lump in her breast in July 2024 and underwent a biopsy with Durham and Darlington Breast Cancer Service, which gave her the good news that the lump was benign.

While this process was uncomfortable, there were no red flag symptoms of breast cancer, so Stacey asked that the lump be taken out and was added to the waiting list for non-essential surgery. The lump was removed seven months later in February 2025. It was only after its removal that Stacey was told her lump was in fact cancerous.

Further investigation found that Stacey’s cancer had unfortunately progressed to stage four and had spread into her bones.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has since admitted that the biopsy originally taken was inadequate and should have been repeated as an ultrasound biopsy.

Stacey began chemotherapy shortly after her late diagnosis and has been told she will remain on hormonal treatment to limit oestrogen and HER2 injections for the rest of her life.

Although she is in her 30s, Stacey has also been told she will be unable to have children naturally.

“This has all been so shocking, so life changing – all from this little lump in my breast, which I wanted removed. It’s ridiculous that I was the one insisting it was removed – they would have left me with it still there,” says Stacey.

“This really is a monumental mess up and the impact on me has been massive. While I’m still recovering from surgery, they call me and say they have found cancer. But how can they have found cancer, when I was previously told it wasn’t there? If they had diagnosed me when they should have, would I now have stage four cancer? I need to find the answers to these questions.

“I’m still young and may have wanted kids – but having them naturally is not a choice I now have. It’s all very traumatic and confusing and so difficult to live with.”

How we are helping

Stacey is being supported by clinical negligence specialists at law firm Slater and Gordon in establishing what went wrong in her care.

Chloe Gibson, who is acting for Stacey, says: “This has been a truly shocking ordeal for Stacey, who was assured her lump was nothing to worry about, only to be told months later it was in fact cancer. The Trust have already admitted failings in how it took the biopsy, and this has led to absolutely traumatic and life-changing consequences for this young woman.

“We will support Stacey in every way in establishing the facts around what went wrong in her care, and finding the answers she needs.”

How we could help you

Serious concerns have been raised about the breast cancer service at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, which is now under investigation for medical negligence.

Many women across County Durham have come forward with harrowing accounts of failures, including:

• missed cancer diagnoses
• unnecessary mastectomies
• lack of reconstruction options
• severe, life-changing scarring

We are running free legal clinics to offer advice and support to anyone who believes they may have been affected. Our team is committed to helping women seek answers and justice after suffering negligent care.

To speak to our team, call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online to arrange a callback.