Health News
2006-01-27
U.K. women get
false breast cancer all-clear
As many as 17
U.K. women have been told they likely are facing advanced
breast cancer after a radiologist had incorrectly told them
As many as 17
U.K. women have been told they likely are facing advanced
breast cancer after a radiologist had incorrectly told them
they were clear of cancer tumors, The Times
reports. The hospitals where the radiologist worked
employed only one radiological staff member, and
because of that his analyses of mammograms were never
checked by other employees, which is a standard safety
measure at most U.K. hospitals, health officials say.
The radiologist
was suspended by Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust last April
over concerns about the quality of his work. A review of his
patients’ records and mammogram analyses showed
that misdiagnoses could have “significantly
altered” the chances of survival for the 17 patients
who had detectable tumors but were told they were
cancer-free and were not properly diagnosed for at
least three more months. One of the patients had been
told she did not have tumors more than two years ago, during
which time the cancer had significantly progressed in her
body.
U.K. health
officials say the reports indicate that radiologists should
work in pairs to double-check each other’s work,
particularly when screening mammograms.
Studies have
shown that lesbians may be at a higher risk of breast cancer
than heterosexual women and that they may seek mammograms to
detect early signs of breast cancer at much lower
rates than their heterosexual peers. (Advocate.com)
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