17 DEADLY DOSES OF RADIATION; EXCLUSIVE: LISA FACES TERRIFYING FUTURE AFTER HOSPITAL BLUNDER Agony of brain cancer teenager.

Byline: By Natalie Walker

BUNGLING specialists gave a 15-year-old cancer patient SEVENTEEN potentially deadly radiation overdoses.

Lisa Norris was celebrating her recovery from a brain tumour when doctors broke the news that her body had been blasted with too much radiation by mistake.

Now the terrified youngster is waiting to hear whether the blunders - blamed on "human error" during radiotherapy -will kill her.

Lisa said last night: "I asked them if I was going to die but they ignored me. When I asked a second time if I would be here in five years, they said they could not answer.

"I want to know if the worst is going to happen, so I can prepare.

"I am walking about with too much radiation in me because of a human error. I feel I have the right to answers to these simple questions."

Lisa's dad Ken, 50, added: "Doctors say at best she could land in a wheelchair or be paralysed, but at worst this could be fatal.

"How can we go on as normal, not knowing what damage has been done to her?"

A spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK said Lisa faced "a waiting game" before learning her fate. She added: "You usually have to wait three months after radiation to see what has happened."

Lisa, of Girvan, Ayrshire, had 17 radiotherapy sessions at the renowned Beatson cancer centre in Glasgow. Staff gave her an over-dose of radiation all 17 times.

As a result, her whole body has turned bright red and she has large sores on the backs of her ears, head and neck.

She finds it hard to sleep because of the heat inside her, and takes cold showers in a bid to cool herself down.

Bosses at the Beatson have admitted that three physicists gave Lisa too much radiotherapy and two hospital administrators failed to notice the mistakes.

An NHS spokesman said: "It has been established that no equipment failure was involved. Initial findings indicate that the overdose was the result of human error.

"Staff concerned with this isolated incident are extremely distraught."

So far, the hospital has refused to tell the family how much radiation was pumped into Lisa.

The teenager's ordeal began five months ago when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

She had complained of headaches, blurred vision and tiredness for almost a year.

Lisa's GP said she had a virus. But an eye specialist trying to help her with a squint suspected something more serious, and she was referred to Ayr Hospital for tests.

A CT scan showed Lisa had fluid on her brain and she had surgery to correct the problem. But doctors then noticed a "shadow" on her brain, and tests revealed a tumour.

Girvan Academy pupil Lisa was rushed to Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow, where she had four blocks of chemotherapy.

But the tumour kept growing, and she was started on radiotherapy at the Beatson on January 5.

Last Tuesday, after 17 radiotherapy sessions, staff told Lisa that her tumour had gone.

Lisa, her parents and brother Andrew, 12, were overjoyed.

The family had a Chinese takeaway to celebrate. But then they got a phone call from the Beatson to tell them that two consultants were coming down to see them.

Lisa's mum Liz, 49, said: "We knew something was wrong. You never hear of consultants visiting your house, so alarm bells rang.

"As soon as they were in the door, I asked what was wrong and they came straight to the point and told us Lisa had beengiven an overdose.

"I went into shock. My wee girl had been through so much and was told she had overcome the worst and then this came along and knocked us all down in one blow.

"I want every single member of staff who has contributed to this to be given the push. What mother wouldn't?

"They are a liability. They have messed up my girl's future and made her fear for every day of her life.

"We have since found out that the hospital knew about this last week. We want to know why it took them almost a week to tell us what had happened. It's like a cover-up."

Ken, a joiner, added: "If they can do this to Lisa, they can do it to anyone.

"I know people make mistakes, but in hospitals there are checks and more checks to make sure things like this don't happen.

"For five different people to fail to spot something like this ... it's just terrifying."

The family have demanded a meeting with Beatson bosses in a bid to find out more.

They are also considering suing the NHS. Ken said: "We won't stop until we get justice for our daughter."

A NHS Greater Glasgow spokesman said an internal investigation was launched as soon as the blunders came to light. He added: "The Scottish Executive Health Department was notified.

"The department will now conduct their own full inquiry with the full support and co-operation of NHS Greater Glasgow staff."

The Beatson's medical director, Professor Alan Rodger, said: "Initial meetings have taken place with the girl and her family. We will do everything in our power to support them in the challenges ahead."

About 7000 patients receive radiotherapy at the Beatson every year.

A senior cancer specialist said of Lisa's case: "I understand it was a substantial amount given as an overdose. It is worrying but thankfully this is incredibly rare.

"In all my time, I've never heard of this happening before."

A spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK added: "This must be a tremendously difficult time for the girl and her family. They will want answers but there may not be any.

"As this is almost unheard of, it will be difficult for doctors to know exactly what lasting effect the overdose will have.

"You usually have to wait three months after radiation to see what has happened.

"It will depend if the radiation has gone to healthy parts of her body by mistake. It's a waiting game."

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CAPTION(S):

CANCER TREATMENT: Radiotherapy' EXPERT: Rodger. Above, the Beatson' A LIFE IN LIMBO: Lisa Norris faces months of terror. RIGHT: Lisa before her illness. TOP RIGHT: With dad Ken, mum Liz and brother Andrew