Having to undergo chemotherapy is a traumatic experience enough as it is, but one patient underwent a shocking eight years of treatment, instead of six months.
David Bown, now 41, is suing the NHS following the mistake which meant he endured years of the powerful therapy, and says he now 'cries himself to sleep'. He said he has been left with irreversible neurological damage in the wake of the cancer treatment and is suing the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
Previously a 'fit and active' IT systems manager, David was prescribed the drug temozolomide, for much longer than recommended. His misery started when he experienced seizures 10 years ago, and was diagnosed with a low-grade brain tumour.
"I went from living a normal, active life – working, coaching kids' football, seeing my mates – to being completely dependent on my mum and dad for everything," David said.
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"I trusted the hospital to do what was best for me but looking back, I just can't understand why I was treated the way I was for so long.
"It has taken everything from me, I cry myself to sleep at night - I dream where I can see and then I wake up and I can't see. It's a nightmare."
David had surgery to remove the tumour, but he didn't have an MRI scan after 48 hours as he was supposed to. He eventually had a scan four days later, and despite bleeding on the brain and swelling, he still wasn't given surgery. He went on to suffer a stroke, and was rushed into surgery, where a blood clot was removed, a drain was fitted, and the tumour had further resectioning.
David's lawyers allege the delay in performing the scan and going to theatre meant he suffered irreversible brain damage.
Following the incident, he was then prescribed temozolomide chemotherapy drug for over eight years – instead of the six months recommended by clinical guidelines. His legal team say the prolonged chemotherapy exposed David to unnecessary risks.
He has also suffered significant cognitive and visual impairment, and now needs daily support from his parents to manage his medication, prepare meals, and attend appointments.
His lawyers said he now has depression, which is linked directly to the years of debilitating treatment.
Fiona Tinsley, partner at Brabners who are representing the family, said: "David was a young man with his whole future ahead of him.
"The cumulative effect of these failings has robbed him of his independence, his health and years of his life."
There are said to be around 30 patients now taking legal action, after 'a wider pattern of harm' and 'systematic' issues with care across the trust.
Fiona added: "What began as concerns about chemotherapy in Coventry now points to systemic failings across a number of practice areas in the trust, involving neuro-oncology clinicians, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, clinical nurse specialists and pharmacists at UHCW.
"The human cost has been devastating. People were told they would have months to live without treatment and endured years of debilitating treatment, believing it was keeping them alive. The burden of these failures has been profound. Patients have suffered physical, psychological, and financial harm, including loss of career, fertility, and quality of life.
“For many there is also no end in sight, with some patients becoming infertile and going into early menopause and one developing secondary leukaemia requiring a stem cell transplant.
"All patients involved have also been placed at increased risk of secondary cancers."
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said: “We are committed to providing the safest possible care for our patients. As a legal claim is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this stage.”
Jen Thomas