A woman who had part of her lung removed after being misdiagnosed with cancer has said she has been left with permanent respiratory problems.<\/p>\n
Erica Hay, 53, underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of her right lung in 2020 after being diagnosed with suspected lung cancer.<\/p>\n
However, the mother-of-three, from Balby, was told after the procedure that the mass in her lung had been caused by pneumonia and not cancer.<\/p>\n
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has apologised to Mrs Hay for the distress and impact on her and her family.<\/p>\n
Mrs Hay first went to A&E at Doncaster Royal Infirmary in July 2020 suffering with pain in her shoulder and across her chest.<\/p>\n
After undergoing a number of tests, she said she was told doctors were “99.9% certain it was cancer”.<\/p>\n
However, she said, due to restrictions imposed during the Covid pandemic, a biopsy was not carried out.<\/p>\n
She said: “My first response was, ‘I don’t smoke’, but the doctors said it didn’t matter, ‘you can still get lung cancer as a non-smoker’.<\/p>\n
“I had to go home and tell my children and parents that I had cancer.<\/p>\n
“I tried to be strong for them, but I just fell to pieces.<\/p>\n
“You hear the word cancer and you automatically think you’re going to die.”<\/p>\n
In September 2020, eight weeks after the initial diagnosis, Mrs Hay underwent open surgery to remove half of the affected lung and the surrounding lymph nodes.<\/p>\n
“I was petrified, I was going into hospital by myself and was convinced I was going to die on the operating table, I messaged my friend in the morning and told her the funeral songs I wanted,” she said.<\/p>\n
Two weeks after the operation, however, she was told she did not have cancer and the mass was most likely the result of an infection.<\/p>\n
She said since the procedure she had been unable to walk long distances or exercise.<\/p>\n
“I’ve had asthma since I was 17, but my respiratory problems have increased unbelievably since the surgery,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It’s completely floored me. Just talking or walking into the kitchen can set my symptoms off.<\/p>\n
“Sometimes I feel like my lungs are too heavy for my body, other times my breathing difficulties are so bad it’s like I’ve had the operation again.”<\/p>\n
She added: “I am so very, very grateful that it wasn’t cancer, but I had to go through all of that and know this is probably never going to get any better now.<\/p>\n
“It affects my work, my daily living, and at times it makes me feel inadequate as a mum and a wife.”<\/p>\n
After the misdiagnosis came to light, Mrs Hay pursued a clinical negligence claim with Sheffield-based law firm Medical Solicitors.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the company said neither of the hospital trusts involved admitted liability or causation, but the case had been resolved with a settlement.<\/p>\n
Dr Nick Mallaband, acting executive medical director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are sorry for the distress experienced by Mrs Hay and recognise the impact this has had on her and her family.<\/p>\n
“This case took place during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which presented exceptional challenges and restrictions across the NHS.<\/p>\n
“However, this does not lessen the importance of learning from what happened.<\/p>\n
“Since that time, we have strengthened our clinical processes and communication with patients to ensure their concerns are heard and acted upon.<\/p>\n
“These improvements are part of our ongoing work to help ensure something like this does not happen again.”<\/p>\n
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted for a comment.<\/p>\n
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