ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A relative of a patient whose breast cancer test was botched and later died told a public inquiry Thursday her sister missed an opportunity to take advantage of critical treatment.Patricia Goobie testified that her older sister Geraldine felt that the Eastern Health authority was giving her the “runaround” when she sought the result of her breast cancer test.
Geraldine only found out that her test was flawed after repeated phone calls to Eastern Health, said Patricia, whose own breast cancer test was accurate.
When she was diagnosed with the disease in 1999, Geraldine was declared ineligible for hormone therapy such as Tamoxifen. She was given the drug in January 2005 and died in August 2006.
“If she went back on Tamoxifen back in 1999, when she was first diagnosed, she may be alive today,” Patricia testified, with a portrait of Geraldine beside her.
“I can’t say if cancer would’ve killed her or not. I don’t know that, but at least she would’ve been given the chance.”
The probe is examining how almost 400 patients were given inaccurate results on their breast cancer tests, and whether Eastern Health responded to them and the public appropriately.
Provincial Supreme Court Justice Margaret Cameron won’t make any conclusions about civil or criminal responsibility.
The province has requested the inquiry deliver a final report by July 30.
A Newfoundland woman was given the “runaround” when she tried to get results from a botched breast cancer test and later died because of the error, her sister told a public inquiry on Thursday.Patricia Goobie told the inquiry, which is probing the handling of hundreds of misinterpreted test results by Newfoundland’s Eastern Health, that her sister Geraldine only found out about the error after making repeated phone calls to the healthcare provider.
She said the health board shouldn’t have required prodding and should have made an appointment with Geraldine, who died in August 2006, to inform her of its mistake.
Almost 400 people were given incorrect breast cancer test results and 108 of them have now died.
The inquiry is hoping to determine how the oversight occurred, why it went unreported for eight years and whether Eastern Health responded to the public appropriately. No conclusions will be made about civil or criminal responsibility in the report due July 30.
Goobie’s revelations followed Wednesday’s testimony by three women who were given incorrect information that seriously affected their treatment. Each spoke about how they were diagnosed with breast cancer but went years without knowing their result was flawed in ways that could have affected their treatment.
Speaking on CTV’s Canada AM on Thursday, one of the women who testified alleged that her doctor falsified her records and became angry when she asked him for a copy of a test result.
“His reaction was defensive,” said Green from St. John’s. “He kind of said, ‘There’s no cure for this disease… He had results for me from another test… and he tossed them at me before leaving the room.”
Green, 45, said her doctor had initially told her she had a 90 per cent chance of survival, but suddenly announced to her that had changed to 20 per cent. She said the misdiagnosis she received led her to choose the wrong treatment which likely affected the progression of her cancer. It has now spread to her liver.
Her records show her doctors knew of the mistake in 2005 but did not inform her until 2007.
Desperate Housewives star Nicolette Sheridan has stripped naked – for charity.
The stunning actress strips down for a new charity ad which also features real life fiance and singer Michael Bolton.
Bolton is seen wearing a huge London Fog trench coat which he has wrapped around Sheridan – although you can still see a glimpse of her naked backside.
The ad was shot for UK company London Fog to raise awareness and any proceeds from the charity campaign will be donated to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp in Ashford, Connecticut.
The camp was founded in 1988 by Hollywood legend Paul Newman and provides children with cancer and other serious illnesses a camping experience and extends year-round support to their families and health care providers.
The campaign was shot by Davis Factor and appears in April issues of US fashion magazines.
SHERIDAN — The town of Sheridan was draped in pink this week as residents decorated Main Street with ribbons and carnations in support of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.In January, Noblesville resident Susan Gillim started an effort asking Sheridan residents to join a team for the race and raise money and awareness to fight breast cancer. Her husband owns MAIN Architects on Main Street in Sheridan, and the couple are building a home there.
Her goal is to motivate Sheridan residents and businesses to raise $5,000 for Race for the Cure. The 5K run/walk is April 19 in Indianapolis.
According to the Indianapolis affiliate of Race for the Cure, the town’s team has raised $1,715, or 34 percent of its goal.
Here are two upcoming events in Sheridan to raise more money, plus an important deadline to sign up for the race:
The Sheridan team will host a Rummage for the Cure sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Community Center, 300 E. Sixth St. All proceeds will go toward the team’s $5,000 goal. Donations are collected at Town Hall. For more information about donation times, call (317) 758-5293.
Team members and volunteers, dressed in pink, will be posted at the intersection of Ind. 38 and Ind. 47 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5 collecting drive-by donations for Race for the Cure.
Donations of cash or checks, made out to Komen Race for the Cure, also can be dropped off at Sheridan Town Hall or MAIN Architects on Main Street.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the 5K run/walk, is April 19 in Indianapolis. Individuals can register by mail until March 31 and online at www.komenindy.org until April 14. Entries are $25. Teams need to register online or by mail by Friday.
Troubled singer Amy Winehouse has posed naked for a photoshoot to raise awareness of breast cancer.
The Rehab singer stripped off and let down her famous beehive hairstyle to encourage young people to examine their breasts.
Amy, 24, is pictured in the April issue of British magazine Easy Living with only a guitar and two pieces of duct tape to protect her modesty.
She decided to bare all for photographer Carolyn Djanogly in aid of the Lavender Trust at Breast Cancer Care which helps more than 8000 women under 50 diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
Amy was not the only singer posing naked for the campaign. Singer Sade and actress Helena Bonham Carter also stripped off for the project.
She said: “I’m really pleased to be supporting this project as I feel it’s so important that people understand breast cancer affects young people as well as older women.”
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