A Coventry cancer patient endured over 14 years of unnecessary chemotherapy due to a prolonged temozolomide treatment regimen, which NHS guidelines recommend for no more than six months.
The oversight came to light after the treating consultant retired, with a subsequent review confirming the treatment was unwarranted.
The patient suffered severe side effects, including fatigue, joint pain, and gastrointestinal distress, with lawyers warning of risks such as secondary cancer and chronic liver problems.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust admitted the treatment was “not evidence-based” and is conducting an internal review.
Meanwhile, the involved consultant faces interim restrictions, and legal representatives suggest the case may be part of a broader issue, with at least a dozen similar cases identified.
Image credit: Anna Tarazevich
