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| Breast screening error angers survivor and family of deceased | Breast screening error angers survivor and family of deceased |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A breast cancer survivor and a man whose wife died from the disease have reacted angrily to revelations that an NHS computer error led to 450,000 people missing screening tests. | A breast cancer survivor and a man whose wife died from the disease have reacted angrily to revelations that an NHS computer error led to 450,000 people missing screening tests. |
| Patricia Minchin said her "traumatic journey" could have been "avoided". | Patricia Minchin said her "traumatic journey" could have been "avoided". |
| Brian Gough, whose wife Trixie died in 2015, said she might have survived if her cancer had been diagnosed earlier. | Brian Gough, whose wife Trixie died in 2015, said she might have survived if her cancer had been diagnosed earlier. |
| A think tank has questioned why the error, for which the health secretary has apologised, was not spotted sooner. | A think tank has questioned why the error, for which the health secretary has apologised, was not spotted sooner. |
| Women aged between 50 and 70 are supposed to be invited for a mammogram every three years. | Women aged between 50 and 70 are supposed to be invited for a mammogram every three years. |
| But about 450,000 women in England aged 68-71 failed to get invitations since 2009 because of a computer error, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Commons. | But about 450,000 women in England aged 68-71 failed to get invitations since 2009 because of a computer error, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Commons. |
| He said the mistake could have shortened the lives of up to 270 women. | He said the mistake could have shortened the lives of up to 270 women. |
| Ms Minchin, a former nurse, told the BBC she believed she was one of those who should have got an invitation for a screening, but didn't. | |
| She was tested in 2009 when she was 67 but was not called back for a second examination. | She was tested in 2009 when she was 67 but was not called back for a second examination. |
| In 2015 she discovered three lumps in her breast, two of which "were deep" and "had obviously been growing for some time". | In 2015 she discovered three lumps in her breast, two of which "were deep" and "had obviously been growing for some time". |
| Mrs Minchin underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in what she called a "traumatic journey". | Mrs Minchin underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in what she called a "traumatic journey". |
| She said: "You can never say it could have been prevented but I really think if I had had a mammogram when I was 70, (the cancer) may have been picked up." | She said: "You can never say it could have been prevented but I really think if I had had a mammogram when I was 70, (the cancer) may have been picked up." |
| Brian Gough, 77, said he was shocked by Mr Hunt's revelation. | Brian Gough, 77, said he was shocked by Mr Hunt's revelation. |
| His wife Trixie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, a year after she should have had a scan. | His wife Trixie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, a year after she should have had a scan. |
| The cancer was treated but returned and his wife died three days after Christmas 2015 aged 76. | The cancer was treated but returned and his wife died three days after Christmas 2015 aged 76. |
| Mr Gough, from Norfolk, said: "She didn't know anything about it until a year too late." | Mr Gough, from Norfolk, said: "She didn't know anything about it until a year too late." |
| What to do if you're affected | What to do if you're affected |
| He said "maybe just maybe" Mrs Gough - to whom he had been married to for 56 years - would have survived if treatment for the first cancer had started earlier. | He said "maybe just maybe" Mrs Gough - to whom he had been married to for 56 years - would have survived if treatment for the first cancer had started earlier. |
| The widower said: "I can't express how sad it is. | The widower said: "I can't express how sad it is. |
| "I know we can't be certain it would have picked up her cancer as it may not have developed or that she would have survived, but it is possible." | "I know we can't be certain it would have picked up her cancer as it may not have developed or that she would have survived, but it is possible." |
| 'Extremely sad' | 'Extremely sad' |
| Early diagnosis is "absolutely essential" according to Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now. | Early diagnosis is "absolutely essential" according to Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now. |
| She said: "I feel extremely sad for the women affected by this colossal administrative disaster. | She said: "I feel extremely sad for the women affected by this colossal administrative disaster. |
| "It's hugely significant, we have to be concerned about confidence in the screening service." | "It's hugely significant, we have to be concerned about confidence in the screening service." |
| Meanwhile, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has questioned why a fall in the number of women getting screened did not raise any alarms. | Meanwhile, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has questioned why a fall in the number of women getting screened did not raise any alarms. |
| In a recent report on the NHS, the IPPR said the number of women who accepted invitations had fallen to 71%, a 10 year low. | In a recent report on the NHS, the IPPR said the number of women who accepted invitations had fallen to 71%, a 10 year low. |
| The IPPR said health chiefs should have examined the data earlier to find out what was happening. | The IPPR said health chiefs should have examined the data earlier to find out what was happening. |
| An independent review set up by ministers will try to establish who was responsible and whether problems should have been flagged up sooner. | An independent review set up by ministers will try to establish who was responsible and whether problems should have been flagged up sooner. |
| All women affected will now be contacted by letter by the end of May and those under 72 will receive an appointment for a catch-up mammogram. | All women affected will now be contacted by letter by the end of May and those under 72 will receive an appointment for a catch-up mammogram. |
| Women aged over 72 can contact a helpline to talk through the pros and cons of having breast screening. | Women aged over 72 can contact a helpline to talk through the pros and cons of having breast screening. |
| Scans in older women sometimes pick up cancers which do not require treatment. | Scans in older women sometimes pick up cancers which do not require treatment. |