Nine breast cancer patients in Newfoundland had inaccurate breast cancer tests

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The largest health authority in Newfoundland and Labrador says errors have been discovered with the breast cancer test results of nine patients.

Eastern Health says it discovered a problem on Dec. 9, when it found a test result from its lab did not match with one during an external quality assurance test.

The health board says it stopped its testing at the lab and sent new tests to an external lab for follow-up.

The tests are intended to determine a treatment plan for breast cancer patients.

Eastern Health CEO Vickie Kaminski has apologized to the affected patients.

She says health officials have met with those patients to inform them of the change in their test result and to advise them of a change in their treatment.

Eastern Health has been under scrutiny in the past for incorrect breast cancer test results.

Between 1997 and 2005, hundreds of Newfoundland women and men received inaccurate breast cancer test results, which led to a public inquiry that identified major problems throughout the province’s pathology system.