A nurse who faced surgery to treat breast cancer at the hospital where she worked discovered just days later that she 'd never had the disease . A mix-up at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton meant staff confused the notes of three patients . As a result , Elizabeth Dawes was wrongly told in July 2013 that she had invasive grade three breast cancer following a biopsy . Doctors advised the 39-year-old that she needed immediate surgery , suggesting a double mastectomy . Ms Dawes refused , but did undergo major surgery to remove a 'cancerous ' tumour from her right breast as well as lymph nodes from her armpit . Elizabeth Dawes , 39 , was told she had breast cancer in July 2013 . Doctors at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton told her she needed immediate surgery and chemotherapy . But four days after the operation she was told staff had confused her medical notes with those of other patients , and she 'd never had cancer . The mother-of-one was also told she would need a further procedure to correct 'deformities ' to her breasts caused by the first operation . But four days later , Ms Dawes was asked to attend an appointment with her consultant . There , he revealed there had been a mix-up with her hospital notes and those of two other patients , - and she had , in fact , never had the disease . She said : ' I am absolutely appalled at what I have been through and am still struggling to comprehend how this could even happen . 'To be told you are facing aggressive cancer in your 30s is devastating and of course , I feared the worst and began making plans for my child , and getting my finances in order . ' ' I was willing to undergo whatever treatment it took to fight the cancer so when I was told I needed surgery , I did n't think twice . ' Ms Dawes was so traumatised she needed anti-depressants and was forced to give up her job in the oncology department at New Cross Hospital . , added : 'The doctor also told me I would need a bilateral breast lift to cosmetically improve the shape of my breasts , as otherwise , after having the cancer surgery I would be left deformed . ' I was very sore after the operation and shocked by the extensive scaring , so to be recalled four days later to be told none of it was necessary was truly horrendous . ' I am still in pain now , have lost a lot of sensation in my breasts and the scarring has not improved , which hugely affects my self-confidence . 'Nothing can make up for what has happened but I am determined to see justice done and feel I at least deserve an official apology from the Trust given the huge impact this has had on my life . ' Ms Dawes , who has an 18-year-old son , is taking legal action . The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust , which operates the hospital , has admitted liability for the misdiagnosis and the unnecessary surgery performed . The mother-of-one , who was working as a breast cancer care nurse at the same hospital at the time , said : 'To be told you are facing aggressive cancer in your 30s is devastating and of course , I feared the worst and began making plans for my child , and getting my finances in order ' Lawyer Louise Hawkley , of Irwin Mitchell , said : 'This is a truly shocking case that has left Elizabeth appalled at the unnecessary heartache , and extensive scarring she has suffered as a result of being wrongly told that she had breast cancer . 'There are also very serious patient safety concerns about the `` mix-up '' and how the other patients have potentially been affected too . ' She said aside from the 'obvious physical implications ' , the ordeal has had ' a devastating impact ' on her client 's life . Ms Dawes had worked as a breast care nurse in the Oncology Department at New Cross Hospital but has since found herself unable to continue in her role 'as a consequence of what she has been through ' . Ms Hawkley added : 'It is also vital that the Trust identifies what improvements can be made to ensure that this never happens again to improve patient safety at the hospital . ' A trust spokesman told MailOnline it has apologised to Ms Dawes and carried out a full investigation . He said : 'The medical director and nurse director met with Ms Dawes to offer her an unreserved apology for this terrible error and inform her of the trust ’ s investigation into the incident . 'The findings of the investigation were shared with Ms Dawes and a further apology offered at that time . 'The incident is now part of an ongoing legal claim with which the trust is co-operating fully . 'The trust can confirm that no other patient received inappropriate treatment as a result of this incident . ' The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust , which operates the hospital , has admitted liability and a spokesman said an apology had been issued to Ms Dawes . He added no other patient received inappropriate treatment .
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2013 . Doctors advised a double mastectomy but she refused , instead undergoing extensive surgery to remove a tumour and reconstruction afterwards . Four days later she was told staff had confused her notes with those of two other patients and that she had never had the disease . Elizabeth Dawes has admitted liability and apologised .