Alex Warwick experienced stroke-like symptoms for years, which doctors dismissed as stress or health anxiety from being a medical student<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The 23-year-old was finally diagnosed with incurable brain cancer after an emergency surgery revealed a large tumor<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Alex is currently undergoing treatment to prolong his life and hopes sharing his story will lead to early detection for others<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A young man was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer after numerous doctors dismissed his symptoms.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d he told The Independent<\/a>. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the GP and neurological exams were normal because I was not having any episodes at the time,\u201d he said. \u201cI present really well. I am articulate and fit, so no one would think even now that there would be anything wrong with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut to be told it was health anxiety was pretty horrible, especially as a medical student,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Alex Warwick The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now<\/strong><\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n Alex\u2019s father, Ian Warwick, was extremely worried about his son’s health. He said he \u201cprobably went to 50 doctor\u2019s appointments\u201d and after \u201cconstant reassurance\u201d that everything was okay, they didn\u2019t push the issue anymore.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, the prognosis is poor, with a life expectancy about 12-18 months after diagnosis.<\/p>\n Alex and his family were devastated by the shocking news, especially after such a delayed diagnosis.<\/p>\n \u201cI would estimate I had the tumor for seven or eight years,\u201d he said. \u201cAll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Ian added that things could\u2019ve turned out a lot differently if his son\u2019s health was addressed during his early doctor visits.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of this is about pinning blame, but if someone presents five or six times with the same thing, take it seriously,\u201d he said. \u201cEscalate and be more curious about why.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Warwick in the hospital During Alex\u2019s emergency surgery, majority of the tumor was removed. He then underwent chemotherapy and radiation.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/d2a872e7edc1f2e2b3b6b2a2cd38da52.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Credit: Justgiving.com<\/p>\n![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/8fc4864d41399de98e33f082a2469305.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Credit: Justgiving.com<\/p>\n