Woman given chemo for 11 years before learning she never had cancer
Becky Jones was misdiagnosed with a brain tumour and given chemotherapy for 11 years, later discovering she never had cancer. A review is investigating.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A woman in Coventry has spoken of her ordeal after being given chemotherapy for 11 years for a brain tumour she never had. Becky Jones, now in her 30s, was told in 2012 that she had an aggressive brain tumour and would die within six to twelve months if she did not take the drug Temozolomide.
Despite national guidelines recommending that the drug should usually be taken for six months, Becky took it for over a decade. She described the treatment as "horrendous", with constant nausea, stomach pains, mouth ulcers and fatigue. She avoided family events for fear of food poisoning and had restrictions placed on her driving licence.
In 2024, her consultant, Professor Ian Brown, retired and her treatment was stopped. It was only then that she learned she had never had cancer. Experts acting on her behalf later said she had an inflammation of the brain, which could have been treated with steroids.
The Royal College of Physicians is investigating 20 cases where patients at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire received Temozolomide for longer than recommended. A leaked letter to the BBC revealed findings including that patients were routinely prescribed the drug and that some were overdiagnosed with more aggressive tumours than they actually had.
The hospital trust said affected patients had been reviewed by senior clinicians and appropriate care plans put in place. It also said it had made changes to ensure more robust oversight of the drug. Professor Brown has not responded to the BBC's attempts to contact him.
Becky said the experience had "ruined my life" and wants to know how her consultant went unchallenged for so long. The case has raised serious concerns about misdiagnosis and patient care within the NHS.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| A leaked letter indicated patients were routinely prescribed Temozolomide and some were overdiagnosed with more aggressive tumours. | |
| Becky Jones was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in 2012 and treated with Temozolomide, but later discovered she never had cancer. | |
| The Royal College of Physicians is investigating 20 cases of patients given Temozolomide beyond recommended treatment duration. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the personal story of Becky Jones, her long suffering, and the institutional failures that allowed the misdiagnosis to continue for 11 years. It highlights the leaked letter and the ongoing investigation, while also giving Becky's emotional response and her demand for accountability.
- “He told me that if I didn't take the Temozolomide then I would die. I had 6 to 12 months to live and I would be on it for life.”
- “Taking chemotherapy for 11 years was horrendous. Constant nausea, stomach pains, mouth ulcers, just day to day fatigue. It was awful.”
- “He's just ruined my life essentially for no reason. I never had a brain tumour, I was misdiagnosed and I've gone through all this treatment for the main part of my adult life for no reason.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.