Mother-of-two, 28, has breasts removed after bungling doctors wrongly diagnose her with cancer

A mother-of-two was wrongly told she had cancer after surgeons had already removed her breasts to stop the diseases spreading. 

Sarah Boyle was left traumatised after bungling doctors at Royal Stoke University Hospital misdiagnosed her with triple negative breast cancer at the end of 2016. 

The 28-year-old was put through several rounds of gruelling chemotherapy, which saw her lose most of her hair and left her drained.

She also underwent a bilateral mastectomy – the surgical removal of both breasts – to stop the cancer spreading and had reconstructive surgery to put breast implants in their place.

The 28-year-old (left, before the treatment and right, after) was put through several rounds of gruelling chemo, which saw her lose most of her hair. She also underwent a bilateral mastectomy – the surgical removal of both breasts – to stop the cancer spreading

Medics only realised their error several months later in July 2017 – by which point the damage was already done. 

Mrs Boyle has since received the added blow that her breast implants puts her at risk of developing cancer in the future.

She says she is still dealing with the psychological trauma caused by the ordeal.

Mrs Boyle, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with husband Steven, 31, and her two children Teddy and Louis, 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.

‘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.’

Mrs Boyle was initially told her cancer treatment may lead to fertility issues, but fortunately she went on to have her second child, Louis, who is now seven-months-old.

But she said was ‘heartbroken’ that she couldn’t breastfeed him due to her treatments. 

Mrs Boyle hired specialist medical negligence lawyers who have now secured an admission of liability from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

Sarah Sharples, a legal expert at Irwin Mitchell solicitors who is representing Sarah, said: ‘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.

Mrs Boyle (with her boys) says she still struggles with the psychological trauma from her ordeal

Bungling medics at Royal Stoke University Hospital (pictured) misdiagnosed her at the end of 2016 and only realised their mistake in July 2017

‘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.’

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust have been contacted for a comment.