The Overlooked Risk: Women Recovering from Hodgkin Lymphoma, Now Facing Breast Cancer Due to Medical Negligence

Women who receive radiotherapy to treat Hodgkin lymphoma are at a higher risk of breast cancer and should be invited for annual screening. However, many women have missed out on this vital surveillance due to failures to arrange the necessary scans. This negligence has caused delays in diagnosis with devastating consequences and this raises concerns about accountability in healthcare and the need for reform.

Medical negligence can disrupt lives. This is especially true for women who beat Hodgkin lymphoma, only to face a breast cancer diagnosis years later. These women trusted their healthcare providers, but oversights left many vulnerable.

A Known Risk, but Missed Screenings 

Radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma raises breast cancer risk. This is well documented including in the NHS guidelines The risk usually appears 8 to 15 years after treatment. So, regular screenings for early detection are crucial.

Women in this high-risk group should receive annual MRI screenings to check for breast cancer so that any abnormalities are caught early, increasing the chances of successful treatment.

The Impact of Missed Screenings

Tragically, women treated from 1962 to 2003 were not always called back for critical follow-up appointments. This failure in medical protocol has left countless women unaware of their increased risk. As a result, many now have advanced-stage breast cancer, when proper monitoring could have helped avoid their diagnoses or reduce the severity.

The negligence has had life-altering effects. It has devastated patients and their families and many women who survived one cancer are now facing a second.

NHS Response and Public Outcry 

In response to this oversight, NHS England has reached out to the affected women with letters of apology. While acknowledging the error is a step in the right direction, many believe it is insufficient to address the pain and suffering caused. These women are not looking for apologies—they are seeking justice and systemic change to ensure this doesn’t happen to others.

What Should You Do If You Have Been Affected? 

We are representing women who have been affected, so if you, or a loved one have received a similar letter and want advice, please contact us. Our award-winning Medical Negligence experts are here for you.

Call us at 01752 292204 or email medicalnegligence@wolfertsans.com for a free, no-obligation consultation. We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis.