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Wolverhampton, UK: A devastated mum has told how she underwent breast cancer surgery - then discovered four days later she never had the disease.
Elizabeth Dawes was told she had a Grade 3 invasive tumour in her breast by staff at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, where she also worked as a nurse.
The 39-year-old underwent a lumpectomy and bilateral breast lift at the health unit, run by Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
But four days later she discovered she had been misdiagnosed - due to a 'mix-up' with notes.
Elizabeth, who has an 18-year-old son, has been left so traumatised by the ordeal she said she has been forced to give up her job at the hospital and is taking legal action.
She has been left in 'a lot of pain' and has scarring.
The hospital has admitted liability and apologised for the error and unnecessary surgery.
"I am absolutely appalled at what I have been through and I am still struggling to comprehend how this could even happen," said Elizabeth, from Stafford.
"To be told you are facing aggressive cancer in your 30s is devastating and, of course, I feared the worst and began making plans for my child and getting finances in order.
"I was willing to undergo whatever treatment it took to fight the cancer so when I was told I needed surgery, I didn't think twice."
"The doctor also told me I would need a bilateral breast lift to cosmetically improve the shape of my breasts, as otherwise, after having the cancer surgery I would be left deformed.
"I was very sore after the operation and shocked by the extensive scarring, so to be recalled four days later to be told none of it was necessary was truly horrendous.
"I am still in pain now, have lost a lot of sensation in my breasts and the scarring has not improved, which hugely affects my self-confidence."
Elizabeth's lawyer, Louise Hawkley, a specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: "This is a truly shocking case that has left Elizabeth appalled at the unnecessary heartache and extensive scarring she has suffered as a result of being wrongly told that she had breast cancer."
"There are also very serious patient safety concerns about the 'mix-up'."
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