Medical Student, 23, Had His Symptoms Dismissed by Doctors 50 Times. Now He Has Incurable Brain Cancer

NEED TO KNOW

• Alex Warwick experienced stroke-like symptoms for years, which doctors dismissed as stress or health anxiety from being a medical student

• The 23-year-old was finally diagnosed with incurable brain cancer after an emergency surgery revealed a large tumor

• Alex is currently undergoing treatment to prolong his life and hopes sharing his story will lead to early detection for others

A young man was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer after numerous doctors dismissed his symptoms.

Alex Warwick, a 23-year-old medical student from Liverpool, England, dealt with unusual symptoms for years. He had extreme fatigue and struggled to stay awake during college exams. He also had episodes where one side of his face would droop, similar to a mini-stroke.

“I would suddenly feel really sleepy. One half of my face would be paralyzed, with my left eyelid drooping and the left side of my face paralyzed,” he told The Independent. “I could not grip things with my left hand. I would feel confused, like half my body was shutting down. I would try to fight through it and stay awake, then it would pass after a few minutes.”

Alex visited numerous doctors but was repeatedly told there was nothing wrong. Multiple medical experts told him that he was dealing with college-related stress or health anxiety because he was a medical student.

“All the GP and neurological exams were normal because I was not having any episodes at the time,” he said. “I present really well. I am articulate and fit, so no one would think even now that there would be anything wrong with me.”

“But to be told it was health anxiety was pretty horrible, especially as a medical student,” he added.

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Alex’s father, Ian Warwick, was extremely worried about his son’s health. He said he “probably went to 50 doctor’s appointments” and after “constant reassurance” that everything was okay, they didn’t push the issue anymore.

But things changed after an episode in May 2025 when Alex was having dinner with his friends and started experiencing the same stroke-like symptoms. They called his parents and rushed him to the hospital.

Once there, Alex started having seizures. He was assessed, then immediately prepped for emergency brain surgery after doctors discovered an aggressive, grade 4 brain tumor. Alex was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of incurable cancer that starts in the brain and spinal cord. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the prognosis is poor, with a life expectancy about 12-18 months after diagnosis.

Alex and his family were devastated by the shocking news, especially after such a delayed diagnosis.

“I would estimate I had the tumor for seven or eight years,” he said. “All it would have taken was someone saying they were not sure what was going on and booking me for a scan. When I did have a scan, it was 5 cm, a big tumor that you could not really miss.”

Ian added that things could’ve turned out a lot differently if his son’s health was addressed during his early doctor visits.

“None of this is about pinning blame, but if someone presents five or six times with the same thing, take it seriously,” he said. “Escalate and be more curious about why.”

During Alex’s emergency surgery, majority of the tumor was removed. He then underwent chemotherapy and radiation.

However, in December 2025 his condition worsened and an MRI revealed that the cancer had spread. He also developed leptomeningeal disease (LMD), a rare and severe complication where cancer cells spread to the cerebrospinal fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

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Although the cancer has no cure, Alex is now traveling to and from Germany for a “cutting-edge” immunotherapy treatment. Ian told the outlet that his son has been surrounded by family during the difficult time, which has allowed him to keep his spirits up.

“We are a close family and we could not have done this without each other,” he said. “The network of the family has been the reason that Alex has maintained such positivity.”

Alex added that although it’s disappointing his cancer wasn’t caught earlier, he’s staying optimistic and finds comfort in sharing his story publicly.

“It makes me disappointed that this slipped through the net, but it allows me to advocate for it not happening again,” he said. “I hope it means that GPs take young people more seriously, especially when presenting with the same thing many times.”

Read the original article on People