Though hardly worth recommending as a diagnostic tool, binge drinking may have saved the life of a California teen, according to media reports.

A few months ago, Evan Hamilton collapsed after downing eight tequila shots, and was rushed to an emergency room where he was diagnosed with brain tumor after a CT scan, CBS13 News reported.

The tumor was soon removed, the 13-year-old spent the next few months slowly recovering and he is expected to thrive again, although he’ll have to undergo periodic MRI tests.

“I just want to be with my family,” the Evan told the news provider, and his mother added that she was “just glad he’s alive,” admitting nonetheless that her son “made a mistake” engaging in alcohol drinking at such a young age.

According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 22,070 Americans will be diagnosed with brain cancer this year and 12,920 will die of the disease.

Experts say there are no known factors that can prevent brain cancer from developing, but avoiding exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, such as formaldehyde, vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile, may help reduce the risk, according to MedTv.com. Also, those with a family history of the disease are encouraged to talk to their doctors about screening.

Survivors and their families may consult the website of the National Brain Tumor Society for valuable informational resources.