Bridget Wyatt was told she didn’t have breast cancer — but BreastScreen SA was wrong

GIVEN the all clear after a routine mammogram, Bridget Wyatt believed she was cancer-free for a year — before hearing about BreastScreen SA’s screening errors via the media and discovering the truth.

Bridget Wyatt was given the all-clear by BreastScreen SA — but a year was told she had cancer. Picture Roger Wyman

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THE State Government’s handling of the chemotherapy dosage bungle has reopened wounds for myself.

Firstly, I would in no way like to think that my situation is as bad or dire as those involved in the chemo mistake and I do not intend to diminish their severe plight in any way.

I was one of the women recalled in the BreastScreen SA review back in 2013 and my claim has been denied because the government is accepting no responsibility.

Fortunately for me, I am going to be OK. But the road has been a costly, time consuming, emotional and frustrating time.

Back in May 2011, I presented to BreastScreen for a routine mammogram and was advised via letter about 14 days later that the scan was clear.

More than a year later, in November 2012, I received the mass mail out and heard about the error with digital screening via the media.

In February 2013, I received a call from BreastScreen to return for a screening as a review of my earlier screens had showed an abnormality.

Further investigation found that I had a lesion and a biopsy confirmed that it was cancer.

By March that year, I had a partial mastectomy and required chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

Ever since, the government has failed to accept responsibility and denied my claims for compensation.

I was told that “yes” what happened to me was negligent but “no” they are not responsible. I beg to differ.

I will try to explain in the simplest way what occurred for me. I doubt that I would be the only one.

I can’t remember the exact time frame in 2013 but I requested a copy of the review report from BreastScreen, for which we had to pay.

The report noted that the screens were of an inferior quality, marked “completely blurred” by the reviewer engaged to do the review.

They noted I was to be called back as there was an abnormality they named as “asymmetrical density”.

This is a standard practice for a call back, in particular because I have a strong family history of breast cancer and it was my first screening.

I heard Tindall Gask Bentley were taking on the case with a class action so I contacted them with the report.

Upon the first contact with the government, they requested more proof that they were responsible for my outcome.

TGB engaged an oncologist in 2015 to give an opinion on the stage of my cancer and to say if had I been called back in 2011, would I had to have such invasive treatment?

The oncologist’s report said the cancer would have been present in 2011 and the lapse in time required me to have more invasive surgery and chemotherapy.

But this report did not satisfy the government solicitors, who still were denying any responsibility.

I was then required to engage a radiologist early this year. The costs of all these reports and court lodgements had to be paid by me upfront.

The radiologist that was engaged to do the reports by TGB was employed by Breast Screen QLD until 2012 and his report was not in my favour.

My case was denied and I have no recourse.

I feel that regardless of whether the original abnormality was found to be insignificant, it is extremely likely that the cancerous lesion would have been found had I been called back in 2011 as confirmed by the oncologist.

I believe the outcome for me would have been very different.

I did what is recommended to prevent outcomes such as mine but I was very let down by the system and this error is one I will be reminded of in some way every day for the rest of my life.

If nothing else comes of this, I hope it will make others aware and hopefully have the strength to tell their story.

There are probably many other women who are in a much worse situation than me and they deserve justice.

More errors, bungles and cover-ups: Read other SA people’s stories of how the system let them down

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