\n In 2016, Sue feared her cancer had returned after finding a lump in her left breast, but Dr Amir Bhatti, the Trust\u2019s clinical lead for breast services<\/a>, told her there was no cause for concern.\n<\/p>\n \n Dr Bhatti carried out a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) test, which gave an \u2018indeterminate result\u2019, but discharged Sue and told her she was cancer-free.\n<\/p>\n \n The Trust has admitted Dr Bhatti should not have carried out the FNA in 2016 and that the unclear result should have led to a core biopsy.\n<\/p>\n \n \n From around 2018, Sue suffered severe left-breast pain and became so tired and breathless that she struggled to climb the stairs.\n<\/p>\n \n Her GP referred her back to the breast clinic, where she was told her mammogram was clear.\n<\/p>\n \n She says she returned with continuing pain in 2020 and 2022, but was told the tests showed no change, and she did not have breast cancer.\n<\/p>\n \n In February 2024, Sue went to hospital for diverticulitis tests, but scans raised concerns about her lungs.\n<\/p>\n \n Further tests revealed seven tumours, and Sue was told she had incurable stage 4 breast cancer that had spread to the lining of her lungs.\n<\/p>\n \n Sue recently raised concerns with the Trust after a patient-safety investigation found around 80 per cent of reviewed FNA samples were inadequate, prompting the Trust to discontinue the test last year<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n \n \u201cI was really worried, particularly from 2018 onwards as I had continuing pain in my left breast, and I convinced myself the cancer had come back. If I brushed my breast against anything, it hurt, and I couldn\u2019t bear to wear a bra.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cDespite this, at each test I was told there had been no change, and after my third mammogram in 2022 Dr Bhatti said to me that he didn\u2019t want to see me again, in a way which didn\u2019t come across as reassuring, but more dismissive.\n<\/p>\n \n \n \u201cI remember another member of the team saying to me that I had to stop worrying also. They said that Dr Bhatti knew what he was doing as he was one of the very best at his job, and that I was effectively taking up precious time that other women needed.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cI came away feeling guilty, and I told myself then that I\u2019d have to stop worrying about it and not go back requesting more tests.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe cancer was only found as I was admitted to hospital for tests linked to my diverticulitis.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThey came to me and said they needed to scan my lungs, and I knew it would be bad news, but to be told it was terminal was completely devastating.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe only time I cried though was when they said the cancer had spread from my breast, and that they\u2019d have to refer me back to Mr Bhatti. I was very apprehensive about seeing him again.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust recently announced plans to extend an external independent review of patient treatment<\/a> potentially as far back as 2015, potentially affecting around 4,500 patients.\n<\/p>\n \n It follows initial reviews of 539 breast cancer cases between January 2023 and February 2025, which have identified 321 cases of harm<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n One patient is known to have died, and 20 women have so far been identified as having unnecessarily had a mastectomy<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n After completing its 2023-2025 review, the Trust will extend it year by year, starting with 2022 and working back to 2015.\n<\/p>\n \n \n Concerns about the service had been raised for years: the Care Quality Commission flagged delayed diagnoses and serious incidents<\/a> in 2018, while an NHS programme identified high mastectomy and re-excision rates in 2019.\n<\/p>\nSue Spencer (Image: SUBMIT)\n<\/p>\n
Amir Bhatti (Image: SUBMIT)\n<\/p>\n
Sue Spencer (Image: SUBMIT)\n<\/p>\n
Sue Spencer, 59, from Burnhope, Durham (Image: SUBMIT)\n<\/p>\n