Becky Jones was 21 when doctors told her she had only months to live after diagnosing her with an aggressive brain tumour.
The Coventry woman had recently begun a relationship with her partner, Pete, and hoped to build a career in policing. Those plans changed after she was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma.
Jones went on to take chemotherapy for 11 years before independent medical experts concluded in 2025 that she had never had cancer.
Years of chemotherapy and debilitating side effects
Jones said consultant Professor Ian Brown, who worked at University Hospital Coventry, prescribed temozolomide and told her she would need to continue taking it for the rest of her life.
However, medical guidelines recommend six cycles of the drug over six months.
She became concerned when scans showed no visible tumour. Jones said she was told the cancer might not be detectable to the unaided eye according to a report by Briefly.co.za, .
The treatment brought persistent nausea, stomach pains, mouth ulcers and extreme tiredness. She avoided family gatherings and social events because she feared infections, while restrictions were also placed on her driving licence.
Jones was further told that she would never become pregnant. She later had two children, which Professor Brown described as “miracles”.
“I was told time and time again without the chemotherapy I would die,” Jones said.
In 2024, a doctor called her to say the treatment would stop. She was not given an explanation beyond being told that Professor Brown had retired.
Experts uncover a different diagnosis
The truth emerged in May 2025 after neurosurgeons and radiologists independently reviewed her case on behalf of her lawyers.
They concluded that Jones had been suffering from tumefactive demyelination, a form of brain inflammation generally treated with steroids. She had not had a brain tumour.
“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,” she said.
A preliminary review by the Royal College of Physicians found that patients at the hospital had routinely received prolonged courses of temozolomide, despite little or no evidence that the treatment was beneficial.
Of the 20 cases examined, 15 were judged unsatisfactory overall. The review referred to Professor Brown as “Dr Y” and said his approach represented a “betrayal of patient trust”.
Jones is now among more than 40 patients taking legal action against University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
One of the patients believes the drug caused infertility, while another reportedly developed leukaemia after undergoing 100 unnecessary treatment cycles.
Readers React as Becky Pursues Legal Action
Becky Jones is now pursuing legal action after discovering that she had been misdiagnosed with a brain tumour and spent 11 years undergoing unnecessary chemotherapy.
More than 40 patients are reportedly taking legal action against the NHS trust involved.
Readers reacted with disbelief online after the story was shared by YOU Magazine.
@ownhouseheidi7 reacted:
“😮😮😮”
@lestieoutofafrica asked:
“How exactly did they find out 🤷♂️🤔🤷♂️”
