Twenty Women Underwent Unnecessary Mastectomies, NHS Trust Admits
By Sharon Barbour, North East & Cumbria Health Correspondent, Victoria Archer, BBC Local Investigations, and Ben Milne
Twenty women underwent mastectomies needlessly while being treated for breast cancer at the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT), the trust has confirmed to the BBC.
This admission follows revelations of serious failures within the CDDFT's breast unit, as previously reported by the BBC.
Steve Russell, recently appointed as CDDFT's chief executive, offers a sincere apology:
"There are no words I could use to convey how personally distressed I am. What happened was utterly unacceptable."
Dozens of affected women and their families reached out following our initial reporting. They shared the shock of learning mastectomies could have been avoided, along with the ongoing psychological and physical struggles many still face.
The CDDFT is conducting an internal review of breast cancer cases from January 2023 to February 2025, extending to cases from 2015 based on a decision yet to be made. Of the 514 cases reviewed so far, 315 patients were found to have suffered harm, with 77 significantly affected and one known death.
The review also uncovered missed or delayed cancer diagnoses in some patients, leading to disease progression. The National Crime Agency is collaborating with Durham Police to investigate these allegations and determine if any criminal offenses occurred.
Denise Howarth, among several women now informed of unnecessary mastectomies, recalls her initial diagnosis and treatment:
"I was just in shock, then ended up in tears on the phone... I had a lumpectomy, followed by a mastectomy, eight rounds of chemotherapy, and radiotherapy."
This story is a testament to the resilience of these women and their quest for truth and accountability.