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A few years ago, a man who successfully beat cancer warned people to be on the lookout for a strange symptom after he revealed that he developed a strange symptom in his mouth that he initially did not think was a tumor.
Chris Byrne, a Brit who survived a serious cancer six years ago, is warning people to be careful. The 66-year-old revealed in an interview that he had experienced a strange symptom a few weeks before his diagnosis, but initially he didn’t take it seriously. He warned people to see a doctor immediately if they experience similar changes in their mouth.
Brian became concerned about his health because of the ulcer on his tongue, but he turned first to his wife. He recommended that she see a doctor.
“I went to the dentist, who referred me to the hospital’s department, where they treat head and neck diseases. I didn’t know what the problem was, but I never thought it was cancer,” said Chris Byrne. Doctors eventually took a sample from the man’s mouth, performed a biopsy, and then came the bad news: Byrne had oral cancer. As noted, the disease can affect any part of the mouth, including the gums, tongue, inner face, and lips. They also drew attention to the fact that most cases involve the age group between 66 and 70 years old.
According to the NHS, symptoms of oral cancer include mouth sores that last for more than three weeks, red or white patches, lumps, pain, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, a lump in the neck or throat, and unexpected weight gain or loss. The disease is also twice as common in men as in women.
Fortunately, the mouth ulcer was discovered in time, so Byrne did not need radiation or chemotherapy after the operation. Regardless, he underwent a fairly serious intervention that lasted 10 hours. During this time, surgeons removed part of his tongue, reconstructed it with skin from his forearm, and removed several neck lymph nodes.
The scars on my arms and my new tongue remind me that I did the right thing and didn’t hesitate to go to the dentist
– Chris Byrne points out the importance of early detection and as a recovered cancer patient, he now devotes much of his energy to campaigning for prevention. Together with another survivor, he has co-founded a local branch of the head and neck cancer charity The Swallows to support those facing the same dilemma as him.
(Photo: libre de droit / Getty Images Hungary)
“Now I know how important it is to know your body and to ask for help if you notice something is not right,” explained the 66-year-old, who recently took part in a campaign where the labels of millions of toothpastes and mouthwashes feature them providing different symptoms of oral cancer and information about when it’s worth seeing a doctor.
“By putting health messages on products people use every day, such as toothpaste tubes and mouthwash bottles, we are encouraging consumers to be aware of the potential symptoms of oral cancer and get screened early. As with many other cancers, the prognosis for oral cancer is much better if caught early. Raising awareness is a key step and although many of these symptoms are not caused by cancer, we encourage anyone with any concerns to see their dentist or GP. Catching oral cancer early can save lives,” he added Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer, NHS England.
(Cover image: Man with open mouth. Illustration: Getty Images)
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