Becky Jones was 21 years old when doctors told her she had a brain tumor and only months to live. The diagnosis, made by a specialist oncologist, led her to undergo 11 years of chemotherapy that fundamentally altered her life and health.
During treatment, Jones experienced regular nausea, could not participate in family events, and had to abandon her career. She lived in constant fear. Doctors told her repeatedly that she would die without chemotherapy and that she would likely need to continue treatment for the rest of her life.
Now 34, Jones has discovered she never had cancer. She was suffering from brain inflammation that could have been treated with steroids.
According to Jones, Professor Ian Brown at Coventry University Hospital told her she would need to take the chemotherapy drug temozolomide (TMZ) for life. This contradicted treatment guidelines, which recommend six cycles of treatment over six months.
Jones is one of more than 40 patients who have taken legal action against University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) over what they describe as prolonged or unnecessary cancer treatment. The patients allege they received extended or unwarranted chemotherapy.
"I was told time and again that if I didn't do chemotherapy I would die," Jones said. "He destroyed my life," she added, referring to her treating physician.