A father-of-two has revealed how he was wrongly diagnosed with an incurable cancer, spending seven years believing he had a rare blood disease before doctors admitted their mistake.
Misdiagnosis ordeal
Simon Pearson, from Staffordshire, was told he had polycythaemia vera, a slow-growing blood cancer, after experiencing symptoms such as tiredness. The 41-year-old broke down in tears when he learned the diagnosis was incorrect.
Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Pearson told hosts Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh how his thoughts immediately turned to his family. His children were aged 10 and seven at the time. "So you're thinking, 'I've got to go home and tell my children my wife'," he said.
Treatment and emotional toll
For years, Pearson underwent regular blood removal procedures to reduce his red blood cell count. He described being in a ward with chemotherapy patients, saying, "It's not a nice place, but a nice place at the same time. And then you obviously feel for those people that are with you." Many aspects of life were put on hold as he entered "survival mode".
Last June, during a routine check-up, Pearson was told the original test results had been negative, not positive. "I walked out and literally rang my wife and said, 'I've got good news' but then cried for 10 minutes on the phone," he recalled.
Hospital apology
Ranvir Singh informed viewers that the chief medical officer for George Elliott Hospital had apologised for Pearson's care. The trust conducted a thorough investigation and implemented actions to prevent a recurrence.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
