12 'Easily dismissed' symptoms of deadly cancer that kills thousands every year
This type of cancer is the fourth most common among men, but it's vague symptoms leaves many simply dismissing the warning signs
The subtle signs could be pointing to a number of serious conditions so it's best to consult your GP
(Image: GETTY)
Head and neck cancer is a group of cancers that originate in the tissues of these body parts, but it doesn't include cancers that start in the thyroid, oesophagus, windpipe or brain according to Macmillan. 12,200 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer in the UK every year and it's the fourth most common cancer among men.
Getting an early diagnosis and swift treatment can have a major impact on both survival and effects of the treatment as 4,100 people lose their lives to these cancers each year in the UK according to Cancer Research. However, many people dismiss the earliest warning signs as it can mimic everyday issues most people face.
Medical negligence experts at Simpson Millar say they've also seen a rise in clients who were misdiagnosed, ignored or sent away with antibiotics, only to later receive a life-altering diagnosis. Kate McCue, Senior Associate Solicitor at Simpson Millar, says: "When it comes to head and neck cancer, timing really does make all the difference.
'Catching it early can lead to much better outcomes, not just in terms of survival, but also in how intensive the treatment needs to be, how long recovery takes, and what quality of life looks like after treatment."
Common symptoms include:
Persistent sore throat
Mouth ulcers that don't heal
Pain or difficulty swallowing
A lump in the neck or mouth
Changes in voice or speech
Swelling or thickening in the cheek
Loose teeth with no obvious cause
Unexplained weight loss
Ear pain or hearing problems
A blocked nose on one side only
Numbness in the tongue or lips
White or red patches in the mouth
If you experience these symptoms for more than two to three weeks or they begin to worsen, it's best to speak to your GP or dentist. The medical negligence experts also urged people to push for further testing if they feel something is wrong or that their symptoms aren't being taken seriously.
Kate added: 'Too often, late diagnosis isn't just down to bad luck but a reflection of structural barriers that can and should be addressed.
"If we want to reduce avoidable deaths from head and neck cancer, we need to fix the system. That means better access to GP and dental services, more targeted public health outreach, and making early diagnosis the norm.'
Article continues below
Tests for head and neck cancer can include blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and PET-CT scans or biopsies. If your doctor or dentist believes your symptoms may be pointing to cancer, you will likely get a referral within two weeks to see a specialist.
If your only symptom is a lump in your neck, you could be referred to a neck lump clinic. These clinics can conduct ultrasound neck scans, biopsy of the lump and nasendoscopy which looks at the back of your mouth, nose and throat.
People who smoke or drink excessively may have a higher risk of head and neck cancer, especially if they do both according to Macmillan. The cancer is also more common in men than women.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
43 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Ammanford woman has miracle babies after brain tumour
Alexe Cherrington, from Ammanford, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October 2003 at the age of 23 after collapsing at work. Doctors warned her that immediate surgery was essential to save her life, and that the radiotherapy required would likely leave her unable to have children. Mrs Cherrington said: "The doctor said I had just days to live unless I had immediate surgery. "I was also told that I was unlikely to become pregnant due to the radiotherapy treatment I would need. "I was numb, just shocked and horrified." She had recently moved away from home and was working in a hair salon when she began experiencing blackouts and loss of consciousness. Her new GP attributed the episodes to stress and prescribed painkillers. But when her symptoms worsened, her mother took her to their family doctor, who immediately referred her to Morriston Hospital, Swansea. An MRI scan revealed a large mass on her brain. The procedure to remove the tumour was initially planned as minimally invasive but surgeons realised the tumour was too large to remove through the nasal cavity. Instead, Mrs Cherrington underwent a 16-hour operation. Just 24 hours later, she was rushed back into surgery to remove a blood clot following a bleed on the brain. She was placed in a medically induced coma and spent six months in hospital. When she woke up, she had lost the ability to speak, walk, or feel the right side of her body. After months of rehabilitation, she was eventually diagnosed with a neurocytoma in the pituitary gland. In 2007, the tumour returned, and she underwent a week of radiotherapy at Whitchurch Community Hospital. Despite being told she was unlikely to conceive, Mrs Cherrington and her husband Dean pursued fertility treatment. Their first round of IVF was successful, and she gave birth to their daughter Amelia, now 12. Three years later, she naturally conceived a second daughter, Georgia-Mae, now nine. Mrs Cherrington said: "We were so thrilled, relieved and shocked. "After being told I'd never have children, to find out I was pregnant naturally, I couldn't believe it." Mrs Cherrington still undergoes routine six-monthly scans and lives with delayed speech but has regained full mobility. She uses her experience to raise awareness of brain tumours and stays active by taking part in weekly park runs.
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
The doctor said 'there's nothing we can do' so we sold our house and went to live on a boat
The doctor said 'there's nothing we can do' so we sold our house and went to live on a boat 'It feels like we're on holiday every day, I can't imagine living in a street or on land again' Tim and Nannw on board their boat that is their much-loved home (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) When Tim Jenkins went out into his garden to calm down after the first half of a particularly exciting rugby international between Wales and France, and then collapsed, he put it down to the stress of watching his favourite sport. But when it happened again, and this time Tim lay in the garden foliage for over 20 minutes, there was clearly something seriously wrong and an urgent appointment was made to check on his health. The MRI scan revealed a bleed on the brain that was sizable and could not be accessed or treated. This is not the first Tim has had a shocking health diagnosis, he has also had a lung removed due to cancer and has had a kidney transplant thanks to his incredibly supportive sister as the donor. But this time there was nothing that could be done. Tim says: "The neurologist said 'you just have to live with it, there's nothing we can do - go and live your life'." For more property and homes stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: 'I could never live on land again, my boat was the best place I could have been in my life to recover from illness' YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'We drive for 270 miles every other week to renovate a rundown chapel, to one day live our Welsh dream' Nannw outside the couple's floating home (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) Having a life-changing health diagnosis can spur some people into deciding to completely alter their lifestyle and their outlook on life and for this very friendly and surprisingly upbeat couple it was to ditch the bricks and mortar and set off on an adventure in a motorhome. But after months of being on the road, enjoyable though it was, the couple decided that they needed to live somewhere a bit more comfortable full-time but knew they couldn't go back to a static house - they had tasted the freedom of waking up in different locations - so a boat seemed to be the obvious answer. The couple, Tim aged 63 originally from Cardiff and Nannw aged 61 and a Caerphilly girl, had lived in a coastal cottage in west Wales for over 30 years and, as the children had grown up and flown the nest, a boat as a home didn't seem so far removed from the much-loved normality of living near water. The couple are from south Wales so of course the boat, currently moored in England is called Delilah (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) But Nannw says: "But I'd never even been on a canal boat, the only boat I'd ever been on was a ferry! I was thinking about living in a home in Penarth Marina but Tim suggested a widebeam narrow boat - it's like a flat on the water." Tim adds: "I said to her we could live in Penarth Marina in a house or flat but on a boat it would be great, we can move around, why don't we have a boat instead?" Tim says the couple spent around four months looking around the canal systems around England and Wales and that helped them make the epic decision to make water and not land their home. Tim says: "W hat a beautiful party of the world Warwickshire is, and that's a Welshman saying that! It seemed the perfect place, in and around the Grand Union Canal." Inside, the boat is more spacious and comfortable than many people think - it's a floating flat (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) After attending a helmsman course to learn how to move it, how to steer it, the couple finally came across a vessel that captivated them and have since explored part of the River Thames and are currently are enjoying the west Midlands area - by water of course. Being a Welsh couple in a foreign land they have, of course, called their floating widebeam narrow boat home Delilah. Tim says: "On the boat it has a small deck, you go down into the hole below deck and you've got a kitchen, a sitting room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom - when we saw her we just thought we could do this, we could live here like this. "And it's been like being on permanent holiday - we'd set off for a month, stop and moor up, go and explore the countryside - you don't have to pack, and when you get back in the evening all the furniture that you usually leave when you go away is all still there - it's absolutely brilliant. I think that's incredible." The bathroom is as stylish as any home on the land (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) Nannw adds: " I think what is lovely here as well, is that from every window I just look at water, or the countryside, it's beautiful - you're surrounded by nature. It's so easy, living on this boat, it's got enough space and it's an active lifestyle, it keeps you fit." Tim says: "If we stop and don't like it we can just move on, if we tire of a spot, we just move on. We have explored Warwickshire and Birmingham and stayed in Leamington for Christmas. The canals go through towns and cities too so we're seeing places we have never known existed. That's the best bit about it, that you can literally pick up your home without worrying about anything, no packing, you just wander wherever you want to, as long as the boat will fit." Tim is very keen on explaining the technical side of the boat as well, as he is keen to stress that they don't miss out on any modern comfort, as many people seem to think. He says: "I like the boring bit as well, the technical aspects of the boat, like the solar power, so all the electrics run on solar power when she's stationary, and that runs a washing machine, computers, television, Wi-Fi and so on, and then when you're moving the engine then charges the batteries again." Tim inside one of the two spacious bedrooms (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) One aspect of living on a narrow boat, especially a larger one, that at first took the couple by surprise is navigating tunnels, especially for the first time. Nannw says: "Because we're wide, they have to block the traffic and you have to go seven in the morning and they say to you, 'we'll stop all the other boats or little boats and then you go through and you've got an hour to get through' so there's a time pressure. "You go into this black hole and you're in it for an hour, it's got air chambers every third of a mile or so but you look up and there are tiny lights at the top and that shows you how deep you are in the tunnel. I'm wishing for, and looking for, the light at the end of the tunnel!" Bedroom two is a double as well - and both slumber spaces have the most wonderful of water views (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) Nannw says they have worked out a way to keep in contact with each other even in a mile long tunnel, she says: "T his boat is so big that Tim can't see the end. I stand on the end of the boat while Tim steers and we've got walkie-talkies to chat to each other." For more property and homes stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here. Another aspect of livin g on a boat that the couple have learnt is that, for them, the best scenario is to moor in the winter and explore in the summer. Tim says: "In the winter it's so cold when you're standing on a deck and trying to think about manoeuvring your boat. And that's why many people overwinter in a marina because it's actually freezing." The couple say that the freedom to move is as flexible as anyone wants it to be for their own personal choice - a permanent mooring, move around and stay in other moorings for two weeks, a mix of both, or even go off for six months - you've got a base that is permanent and somebody can't take off you, but you've also got the freedom to go for a wander. Nannw says she can't ever imagine living in a street on land again (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) Tim says you can moor in some very special places for a very special price. He explains: "For example, you can moor in Windsor right by the castle then, in the morning, a bailiff person comes by, knocks on the window, and they say, 'could I have a fiver please for you to moor here?' And for £5 a night, you get to stay in a prime spot, isn't that just brilliant?!" One aspect of living on a boat that seems to fascinate land-loving people are the toilet facilities. Tim says Delila has got a tank for the pump-out toilet where the waste then gets pumped out at a designated station that each marina offers that is part of the mooring rent, as well as toilets similar to a caravan using a cassette system that collects and then you take out, or a composting toilet - or a mix of these options. When the couple want a change of scenery they just up anchor and meander off down one of the UK's canals (Image: Tim and Nannw Jenkins) Anyone tempted to become the captain of their own ship the couple can offer a few words of wisdom and one is to seek the support of other canal dwellers as they say it is a friendly community happy to help and for everyone's safety attend a course on exactly how to navigate travelling the canals, even though you're only travelling around four miles per hour. Tim adds: "Also go and have a look at as many boats as you can because you'd be shocked how different they are, they might look the same on the outside, but you go inside and the layout and everything can be so different. Also, one of the added costs to consider is a licence - we pay £ 2,000 a year, it's like a car tax and you have to pay that whether they're in a marina or not. "At the moment I'm feeling fine and we are enjoying our home on the water and will continue to explore, maybe even try to get further afield but our boat won't fit every canal in the UK, we need a canal like a motorway, like the M4." Article continues below Nannw concludes: "It's not a rough and ready life, you've got all the romance of the canals, a relaxing time travelling at just four miles per hour, but a comfortable home too, now I can't imagine living in a street or on land again."
Wales Online
14 hours ago
- Wales Online
Brain tumour survivor feared the worst after starting to feel ill again, but a miracle had happened
Brain tumour survivor feared the worst after starting to feel ill again, but a miracle had happened Alexe Cherrington was told she only had days to live if she didn't undergo immediate surgery, and that it would be virtually impossible for her to have children Alexe Cherrington from Carmarthenshire defied fertility odds to become a mum after a brain tumour diagnosis (Image: Brain Tumour Research) In October 2003, 23-year-old Alexe Cherrington from Carmarthenshire was diagnosed with a brain tumour after collapsing at work. She was informed that without immediate surgery, she had only days to live. To make tragic news even worse, she was told that, even if she survived, her chances of ever being able to have children were extremely slim. Having recently started working in a hair salon, Alexe began experiencing unexplained blackouts and loss of consciousness. Her new GP attributed these episodes to stress and prescribed painkillers. However, as her symptoms worsened, Alexe's worried mother brought her home and took her to their family doctor. The doctor immediately advised Alexe to go straight to Morriston General Hospital in Swansea, where an MRI scan revealed a mass on her brain. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here . 'The doctor said I had just days to live unless I had immediate surgery," Aleze said. "I was also told that I was unlikely to become pregnant due to the radiotherapy treatment I would need. I was numb, just shocked and horrified. I didn't have many choices. "Thinking back to that time, it's still all a blur. It was meant to be the start of me becoming independent and everything just fell apart. Mum burst into tears as doctors explained the risks: the tumour was dangerously large and pressing on vital parts of my brain. The doctors told me there was an 80% chance I would not survive an operation and a 20% chance of severe disability if I did. I was numb.' Alexe Cherrington (Image: Brain Tumour Research) Initially planned to be minimally invasive, s urgeons soon discovered that Alexe's tumour was too large to be removed through the nasal cavity, leading to a gruelling 16-hour operation. A mere 24 hours later, she was rushed back into surgery due to complications from a brain bleed, necessitating the removal of a blood clot. Alexe was then put into a medically induced coma and spent the following six months in hospital. When Alexe finally regained consciousness, she had lost her ability to speak, walk or feel the right side of her body. Alexe recalled: 'I was confused and suffering severe memory loss, I thought the hospital was home. I had to re-live the devastating news that my dad had died, I didn't even recognise my own brother or best friend.' Following months of physiotherapy and speech therapy, during which she initially communicated by pointing at pictures, Alexe was diagnosed with a neurocytoma of the pituitary gland. She remained in hospital for nearly a year. In 2007, an MRI scan revealed that Alexe's tumour had regrown. She expressed: 'Hearing the tumour had come back filled me with dread and fear. It absolutely broke my heart. I thought I couldn't go through it all again.' Alexe underwent a week of intensive radiotherapy at Whitchurch Community Hospital in Wales. Despite being told that she would be unable to conceive due to the radiotherapy, Alexe and her husband Dean explored intrauterine insemination (IUI), but were unsuccessful. The couple decided to become foster parents instead, a choice that has transformed numerous lives. Over the years, they have fostered 29 children, including Mikey, who chose to remain part of their family permanently. Alexe and her husband Dean (Image: Brain Tumour Research) Alexe's initial round of IVF was successful, resulting in the birth of her daughter, Amelia, who is now 12 years old. Alexe said: 'I was so thrilled, relieved, and shocked. After everything I'd been through, and after being told I couldn't have children, it felt like a miracle.' In 2014, three years later, Alexe started feeling unwell again. Bracing herself for news of another recurrence, she was instead informed that she was naturally pregnant - a possibility doctors had previously ruled out. Alexe said: 'We were so thrilled, relieved and shocked. After being told I'd never have children, to find out I was pregnant naturally, I couldn't believe it. It was amazing news.' Today, Alexe and Dean live a happy life with their daughters Amelia and Georgia-Mae, aged 12 and nine respectively. Despite living with delayed speech, Alexe has regained full mobility and continues to undergo routine six-monthly scans. She keeps active by participating in weekly park runs and uses her experience to raise awareness about brain tumours. Alexe stated: 'My life fell apart overnight. Brain tumours aren't always the end. There is hope and there is life after a brain tumour. I have focussed on my health and lost five stone, I'm living proof. But in order to have more survivors, research into brain tumours needs more funding and more research.' According to the charity Brain Tumour Research, brain tumours are the leading cause of death in children and adults under the age of 40, more than any other cancer. The charity supports sustainable research at dedicated centres across the UK, and is spearheading the call for an annual national spend of £35 million to enhance survival rates and patient outcomes, aligning with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia. A mere 1% of the national expenditure on cancer research has been dedicated to this devastating disease. Letty Greenfield, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: 'Alexe's story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the urgent need for more research into brain tumours. Article continues below "Her journey shows that even in the face of devastating diagnoses, there can be hope, recovery and life beyond a brain tumour. Stories like Alexe's inspire our work every day and highlight why we must continue to campaign for greater investment in research to improve outcomes for patients."
