Dozens of Winnipeg cancer patients have called a hotline set up for people concerned about their test results after errors were discovered in the work of a city pathologist.

The pathologist was put on leave last week after a review uncovered errors in seven of 35 selected complex cases reviewed, Diagnostic Services Manitoba and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said last week. Of 107 randomly selected general cases from February, two reports had to be amended.

'I'm kind of hoping that when I open the mail every day there isn't a letter from the WRHA saying, "Dear Mr. Boomer, guess what?"'—Cancer survivor Tom Boomer

Another 700 cases by the doctor are being investigated for possible errors by an external pathologist.

Some cancer patients are now worried their illness may be more serious than they had been told; about 66 people have called a hotline set up to respond to patients' concerns.

Prostate cancer survivor Tom Boomer has been told he's cancer-free, but now worries he may not be in the clear. Diagnostic Services Manitoba has refused to release the pathologist's name, so Boomer doesn't know if his test results are among those under review.

"The only thing I would be concerned about is hoping that he didn't make a mistake as far as the aggressiveness of my cancer goes," he said.

"In the back of my mind, I'm kind of hoping that when I open the mail every day there isn't a letter from the WRHA saying, 'Dear Mr. Boomer, guess what?'"

The investigation into the other cases handled by the same pathologist in the last year is expected to wrap up by the end of May.

'Worry about your health first'

Meanwhile, Marian Kontusic, who was herself a victim of a diagnostic error five years ago, was shocked by the news about the pathologist's errors.

"When I heard about this on Friday I thought, 'Oh my goodness, not again.' I just feel so sorry for anyone else that's going to get that phone call I got," she said.

Kontusic had an abnormal Pap smear in 2003; she was told her pathology results indicated her cancer was at a stage where chemotherapy wasn't required.

But about four months later, she was told a mistake had been made, and her cancer was in a much more serious stage. She was immediately put on chemotherapy.

Kontusic is now healthy, but still has to have regular tests to make sure her cancer doesn't return.

She has these words of advice for people who receive bad news: "You have a right to be angry. You'll be upset. But just follow through with what they tell you that you have to do — like if you need further treatment, do it. And worry about your health first."

Changes to the pathologist's reports do not necessarily mean a change in treatment is required, health authority officials said Friday.

Doctors will discuss changes in pathology diagnoses with their patients and inform them if there is a need to change treatment. If patients require additional treatment as a result of the change in diagnosis, it will be expedited, officials said.

Manitobans with questions about the situation can call the WRHA hotline at (204) 788-8004.