'I went through 13 year of gruelling chemotherapy for nothing - a bungling medic wrecked my life'

A man who underwent almost 15 years of unnecessary exhausting chemotherapy after a huge NHS error says his life has been ruined by what legal experts call "extreme negligence". Andrew Whitehead became unwell in September 2010 after reporting severe neck pain, neurological symptoms and a sudden loss of sensation. An MRI scan identified a tumour within his cervical spinal cord, and he underwent emergency neurosurgery at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire to remove part of it. Following that surgery, tissue from the tumour was analysed by pathologists at University Hospitals Birmingham and he was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma, a malignant and aggressive tumour. Andrew was told he had a serious, life‑limiting cancer and was told he would be placed on a course of intensive treatment. Within weeks, the man, from Redditch, Worcestershire, underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and his treatment didn't stop and for years he continued to be prescribed monthly cycles of Temozolomide chemotherapy - but all along repeated MRI scans showed no progression of the tumour. In 2024, more than 13 years after his original diagnosis, Andrew’s tumour tissue was re‑examined following the retirement of the professor who initiated treatment on him after his treatment and care were taken over by new oncologists. A detailed review concluded that the tumour was not a high-grade malignancy as previously thought - and the finding were consistent with a low‑grade tumour, likely a pilocytic astrocytoma. Tearful Andrew has spoken to The Mirror about the impact the error has had on him and said: "I lived for 13 and a half years thinking I could die, and it's ruined my life. I put everything on hold and just focused on trying to stay alive. "When I was first told about the lowering of the grade of the tumour, I was honestly relieved. I thought I'm not in such a precarious spot now, that I could relax a little bit. "But after I left the consultation I got in the car, and I just thought, started to think things over in my own mind, just thinking 'this is not right, what's happened to me for all these years - something is majorly wrong here' and I couldn't get it out of my head. "I don't know why it happened. Was someone not very good at their job? Maybe it's some sort of clinical trial? Or if it's just incompetence or were they just lazy? "It was going on for a third of my life. I've been living in fear for all this time, it's destroyed my life I would say. I don't have a life now, it's as simple as that. "I have not been able to work since my diagnosis. I became very unwell because of the treatment, I was told they needed to throw the kitchen sink at it. All along I was fine and didn't need it." Andrew is one of a number of patients who have come forward. Independent law firm Brabners said it was one of several cases of incorrect overdiagnosis as legal action is launched. Partner Fiona Tinsley has accused the Trust of trying to cover it up. "Andrew underwent over 13 years of unnecessary chemotherapy and lived for years believing he had a life‑limiting cancer all the while suffering avoidable physical, psychological and lifestyle impacts," she said. "Clinicians have acknowledged that had this diagnosis been reached at the outset Andrew would not have required chemotherapy at all and his treatment pathway would have been fundamentally different. The central issue is not simply the starting diagnosis. It is that the treatment approach was not revisited or challenged over time when it plainly should have been. "The Trust are not ignoring it, but they are trying to manage it. Over 40 patients have come forward, and there may be many more. It's damage limitation on their part. The Trust are saying that every patient affected has been contacted and that care plans are in place. That simply is not the case. All the patients that have contacted and instructed us from the beginning of 2025 onwards have confirmed that they only became aware from the media coverage. "The Trust has not been candid. Why were they letting this happen? The fear of death has been put into these patients’ heads and they were led to believe that they were on this prolonged treatment to keep them alive even though in most cases, scans remained/have remained stable for many years. "There is a criminality side to this. We need West Midlands Police to pick up this and run with it. Those responsible for these actions need to be held to account for the harm, devastation and in some cases, deaths caused." Andrew added: "At this point, the money is almost meaningless. I want everyone involved to be held fully accountable with what they've done, from the top to the bottom. "Criminal convictions as well, if it's needed. I've lot a massive part of my life to this, and I don't know if I will ever recover." A review by the Royal College of Physicians is expected to announce its findings in September. A spokesperson for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said: “The Trust is committed to providing the safest possible care, on becoming aware of this incident, we spoke with all individuals who were receiving temozolomide (TMZ) treatment at the end of 2023 to ensure appropriate support and care plans are in place. “An independent, external review is being led by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), which the Trust is fully supporting. It is important that the RCP is given the necessary time to complete a full, robust and thorough review.” MirrorOnline approached West Midlands Police and the General Medical Council, who both referred us back to each other.