Man had unnecessary chemotherapy for 14 years

A cancer patient has spent more than 14 years receiving unnecessary chemotherapy, hospital bosses have admitted.

Lawyers representing the man claim they know of 12 more patients - all in Coventry - saying his case is the "tip of the iceberg".

NHS Guidelines recommend the chemotherapy drug he was originally prescribed, temozolomide, should not be used for more than six months.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) said it was carrying out an internal review into what happened, and stressed it was committed to providing the best care for its patients.

Lawyers for the patient claim that long-term treatment with temozolomide risks secondary cancer, chronic liver problems and reinforces the fear of death.

The patient, who was originally treated for a cancerous brain tumour, said he had suffered fatigue, joint pain, gastrointestinal distress, recurrent mouth ulcers and nausea, because of the ongoing treatment.

His prolonged chemotherapy programme was only discovered when the consultant treating him, Prof Ian Brown, retired.

A consultant who took over his care then confirmed the four-week cycles of chemotherapy he was undertaking were not needed.

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Source: BBC News, 22 January 2025