Doctors thought my headaches were appendicitis — it was a brain tumor

A UK man is “running out of time” after his brain tumor was misdiagnosed as appendicitis — with doctors removing the organ.

Joshua Warner, 25, began suffering from a severe headache in late June, and was eventually taken to the hospital by his dad nearly two weeks later.

“Josh didn’t have any pain in his stomach,” his mom, Eve Pateman, said, as reported by South West News Service.

”But they told us the pain in his head was ‘referred pain.’ So, the next day, out came his appendix,” she explained.

However, the dad of one was later re-admitted to the hospital, as he still had a headache and felt sick.

He was given a CT scan, but an anomaly in the imaging was put down to “an issue with the scan machine,” and he was later released, according to SWNS.

Warner continued to go in and out of the hospital until he collapsed while in his grandparents’ bathroom in August. He was then given another CT scan and referred for an urgent MRI.

It was then that doctors diagnosed him with a brain tumor, but are unsure exactly what kind it is.

Doctors determined it could either be a glioblastoma or a diffuse midline glioma, also known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or brain stem glioma, which are both very aggressive kinds of brain cancer.

Now, Warner is waiting on a biopsy of his tumor, which will help determine which kind it is. The biopsy’s results will also allow him to figure out what kind, if any, treatment he will be able to get.

”It’s deep, and in his brain stem and spinal cord now,” Pateman said. “We know he’s going to die from this, but we want to give him every single chance.”

“He keeps saying ‘I don’t think I can go on Mum’ because he feels like no one’s fighting for him.”

Currently, the family is working with the UK-based charity, Brain Tumour Research, which works to help find a cure for all different kinds of brain tumors.

They are also raising money for Warner and his child, with a total goal of nearly $9,000 — a number they have already greatly exceeded.

Because of his illness, Warner has not been able to work for over two months.

”We’re running out of time,” his mom admitted. “He’s a 25-year-old guy with a 4-year-old son and we’ve felt like we’re just treading water because we’ve not been getting anywhere.”

But still, despite it all, Warner has maintained a sense of humor and continues to have a “zest for life,” even though he is battling the tough and potentially deadly disease.

“Josh is unbelievably funny, kind and selfless,” Pateman said. “We love him so much and are absolutely heartbroken to see him like this.”

”The road ahead is not going to be an easy one, but we are encouraged by his determination and strength, and we refuse to give up hope.”

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, told SWNS that unfortunately, Warner’s story is not unusual.

“Brain tumors kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002,” Allsebrook said.

“We’re determined to change this but it’s only by working together we will be able to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, find a cure.”