Dan Horrocks, 33, has courageously battled four brain tumours over the past 14 years, but his early symptoms were repeatedly overlooked by doctors.
Initially diagnosed with his first tumour in 2011, soon after he and partner Sonia Khan, 32, got together, Dan has since undergone surgeries to remove tumours from both his spine and brain, as well as multiple rounds of radiotherapy.
Recounting his experiences to The Times, Dan revealed that chronic headaches were his first indication of the illness, yet three GPs misdiagnosed him—one suggesting a trapped nerve treated with acupuncture, another prescribing travel sickness medication for supposed ear imbalance, and a third offering antidepressants.
The crucial breakthrough came when a free eye examination uncovered swelling in his optic nerve, leading to the discovery of a cancerous growth Dan likened to “the size of a golf ball”.
Amidst nearly 15 years of treatment, Dan has nonetheless carved out a distinguished career in Parliament, where his partner Sonia has worked for high-profile figures like Sajid Javid. Alongside their professional achievements, they are raising their son, Elijah.
Despite his unwavering resilience through numerous treatments, Dan confessed the journey has been wearing on him and his loved ones, prompting deep reflection about his future.
He shared: “When I heard the news about the tumour spreading to my spine I was ready to give up. I felt at 33 that this was a sign that this life wasn’t meant for me, and I should accept my fate.”
Dan attributes his strength and determination to survive to his young son, expressing a heartfelt desire: “I want to see what kind of young man he will grow up to be. I want to be there to hold his hand as he walks through the door of his first primary school. I want to be his confidant as he deals with relationships as a teenager,” reports Surrey Live.
He suffers from a rare cancer known as ependymomas, which originate in the cells lining the brain and spine’s fluid-filled passages—typically found in individuals under 45 years of age.
Brain tumours have become increasingly prominent, with more diagnoses and evolving research pointing to breakthrough treatments, such as medicinal cannabis.
In particular, a 2021 study showed that Sativex, when combined with certain chemicals, could enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy, leading The Brain Tumour Charity to acknowledge its possible therapeutic use.
Nevertheless, they also noted that evidence supporting cannabis as a treatment for brain tumours was “limited”.
They stated: “There’s now conclusive evidence for the use of cannabis and its products, such as cannabis oil and CBD oil, for other therapeutic purposes in people with a brain tumour or cancer, i.e. for pain relief and treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.”