Man was diagnosed with brain cancer after doctors said major symptom was anxiety

A man has opened up about the symptoms he experienced and how he was dismissed as being anxious before later being diagnosed with a grade three cancerous tumor.

Benjamin was diagnosed with a cancerous grade three brain tumor - called a glioma - at the end of 2023.

The 25-year-old has since opened up about the first symptom he began experiencing at the age of 18 and his experience when he shared his concerns with a doctor.

He explains it was his birthday and he and his twin brother were celebrating outside having a drink when 'suddenly' he began seeing 'flashing lights' in his eyes.

In a video shared to YouTube by The Patient Story, he continues: "It was just a sensation I've never felt before, but it was really sunny and July so I just thought maybe it was that. And they just kept on flashing, flashing, flashing."

Benjamin began experiencing symptoms at the age of 18 (YouTube/ The Patient Story)

Benjamin's symptoms of his brain tumor

Benjamin put a pair of sunglasses on but could then feel his body 'getting really overwhelmed and panicky'.

"I'd never experienced a seizure before, this was my first one and it was a grand mal seizure," he explains. "[...] The last thing I remember is going through the patio door and then waking up with three paramedics over me taking off my clothes."

Mayo Clinic details: "A tonic-clonic seizure, previously known as a grand mal seizure, causes a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It's the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures."

Benjamin was 'sweating' and 'really confused' and 'didn't know what [he] was experiencing'.

"When it came down to researching what that was and why I had it, I was taken to my local hospital [...] all my doctor told me was, you know, everyone is allowed to have one seizure in their life without any investigation," he revealed.

"Now learning that was not true practice and that's not what he should've done - regardless if someone has a seizure, they need to investigate that."

Benjamin's symptoms were dismissed by doctors (YouTube/ The Patient Story)

What doctors dismissed Benjamin's symptoms of his brain tumor as being

Benjamin was ultimately told he had 'low phosphate levels'.

Four years passed and Benjamin was 'fine,' but then towards the end of 2022 when he was at work and 'felt like [he] was being electrocuted'.

"The biggest thing that I ended up gaining was lack of speech. It was almost like my ability to talk and brain just disconnected," he recalls.

He adds: "I knew something was wrong at that point, but I guess I was trying to believe that was just the case. I didn't want to believe it was anything more than that or anything more serious."

Two to three months later, Benjamin was in New York and 'suddenly it hit [him] again' and he was 'floored by it'. However, when he went to a doctor, he was told it was 'anxiety'.

By mid 2023, the 'attacks' were happening every week leaving Benjamin 'breathless' 'confused' and unable to speak.

He saw 'around three different doctors' from 'different practices' but 'every single one of them said you've got anxiety'.

It was only when he ended up in the emergency department aged 24 where he received a more thorough investigation.

At the hospital, Benjamin had an MRI - a medical imaging technique used to create detailed images of organs and tissues - performed on his brain.

"That's when I found out that I had two lesions on the brain," he says.

Benjamin was told it was 'benign,' but in February 2024, he was told it was a 'malignant' 'grade two tumor' that had been in his brain for 'nine or 10 years'.

After having surgery, he was later told his 'full diagnosis' - 'grade three' - 'areas where the mutation was becoming more aggressive'.

Benjamin received chemotherapy and currently gets scanned 'every three months'.

He's set to have another surgery at the beginning of 2026 for 'the other mutation'.

Benjamin resolves: "There is always that glimmer of hope. [...] It has taught me the value of life. I'm 25 years old and I think when you're that young, you can take it for granted. So I feel like it has taught me about mortality and how grateful we've got to be for it.

"[...] Listen to your body. If something isn't feeling right do not feel you can't speak to your doctor and see if there's something they can change for you. [...] You just have got to really stand for yourself."

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.