I’ve at all times taken care of mouth, at all times gone to the dentist for normal check-ups and eat a traditional eating regimen.

Wednesday twenty seventh September 2017 was only a regular morning, I used to be consuming my cereal and I bit down on what I believed was my tongue, however once I went and checked within the mirror I seen the lump below my tongue. I hadn’t had any ache; my mouth didn’t really feel any totally different, my style was the identical, so what was this?

I instantly rang the medical doctors, it’s true what they are saying, ALWAYS get a lump checked out in order that’s simply what I did. I visited my surgical procedure and noticed the Ear, Nostril and Throat specialist who appeared in my mouth briefly and stated… “it’s a mouth an infection”.

I used to be given antibiotics and a mouthwash to take for seven days, I went residence and began with the antibiotics. However there was at all times one thing at the back of my thoughts that one thing simply wasn’t proper. I checked my mouth each day, after three days of taking the antibiotics and utilizing the mouthwash nothing seemed to be altering.

I booked an extra physician’s appointment and noticed a distinct physician. This physician didn’t even look in my mouth and instructed me to provide the antibiotics probability to work. I questioned the physician and requested, “might or not it’s mouth most cancers?”

I had finished analysis and was displaying some signs. The physician laughed at me and stated, “you’re 23, you CAN’T get mouth most cancers.”

After that appointment I believed to myself, possibly he’s proper, possibly I want to provide the antibiotics extra time. However once more, days went handed and there was nonetheless no change in my lump.

I booked a one more appointment, with a nurse this time, she appeared in my mouth and will see the lump, however as a result of I hadn’t seen her on my earlier appointment she couldn’t see that there wasn’t any change, so once more I used to be despatched residence to “give the antibiotics an opportunity”.

Lastly, after I had completed the course of antibiotics, I returned to the physician surgical procedure and requested to see the identical nurse. She appeared in my mouth and will see that there was no change. I had photograph proof, which I took each day, this was so necessary in my case as I needed to show to the medical doctors that there was no change and the antibiotics hadn’t labored.

The nurse known as a physician, who additionally appeared in my mouth, he stated: “I’m sorry it’s taken seven occasions so that you can go to, however you going to should be referred for a biopsy”. They despatched the referral as quick observe and inside per week I used to be despatched to the Musgrove Hospital in Taunton for a biopsy (25 October 2017).

I had the biopsy, the place they took two areas of tissue for testing. It was initially meant to be one, however the nurse stated part of the lump appeared irregular and requested if she might take an extra biopsy to which I clearly agreed.

I had seven stitches to the aspect of my mouth, the ache was so intense I couldn’t eat, communicate and will solely simply handle some water. I returned residence the identical day and the ready sport started.

Ready for the letter by the door or the cellphone name I knew in my coronary heart one thing wasn’t proper, I at all times had that intestine feeling and so they say you recognize your individual physique. The letter arrived on the eighth November, I used to be known as again to Musgrove and myself and my household went into the room the place I used to be identified with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue.

I had no phrases, I used to be sat there wanting on the marketing consultant talking to me, however in my head all I stored saying was “me, most cancers, what about my son”.

Nicely it very a lot was actual, my household sat, distraught, not understanding the end result of what was going to occur to me, it was a day I’ll always remember.

I used to be despatched for an extra biopsy on my neck, as I had a lump, and fortuitously the biopsy got here again clear.

I used to be then despatched for bloods, images and met with a speech therapist and dietician. I didn’t even get probability to breath, I felt so suffocated by all of it, a lot data to soak up.

I used to be solely 23, I must be listening to about my son’s day at nursery, not most cancers.

My marketing consultant defined my most cancers. Relying on scan outcomes it was treatable however it’s a significant operation, they deliberate to take away the left aspect of my tongue and carry out a radical pores and skin graft from my arm onto my tongue after which from my leg onto my arm.

I didn’t actually think about how extreme the operation was going to be, I used to be simply keen to do something to be round for my son.

I returned residence and tried to behave “regular”, no matter regular is, however it was at all times at the back of thoughts, continuously reminded by most cancers on the tv or within the outlets, there was at all times one thing bringing me again to most cancers.

I had MRI scan, CT scan, PET scan and extra blood exams and importantly I made certain I loved each day with my son and household.

I had a pre-op evaluation in Exeter, the place I underwent extra exams to ensure I used to be match for the operation which was deliberate to be a 14-hour op the place I might be put into an induced coma till the subsequent day. I used to be declared match for the operation and was given the date — thirtieth November at 7.30am.

I used to be so scared of the end result and being put into the coma that I couldn’t sleep. I attempted to take pleasure in myself, however like I stated, the most cancers was at all times there, and I used to be by no means my true self.

Quickly sufficient the thirtieth November got here, and I made my solution to Exeter hospital, I met with my surgeon who introduced some excellent news, the PET scan confirmed the most cancers was smaller than they thought and they won’t should do the operation as beforehand deliberate, however as an alternative do a laser surgical procedure to the tongue to which I used to be over the moon about.

However, I wouldn’t know what process that they had finished till I awakened, I used to be additionally instructed my tonsils had flashed up as a sizzling spot on the PET scan so to be protected they’ll carry out a tonsillectomy as nicely.

9.30am got here and I made my manner  right down to the theatre, the longest stroll of my life. I stated my goodbyes and I used to be put to sleep. I awakened eight hours later however felt like 10 minutes to me.

I bear in mind waking up and checking my arm and to my reduction they hadn’t needed to do the unique operation deliberate because the most cancers was small. I had laser surgical procedure to mouth, left partial glossectomy, tonsillectomy, tooth exaction and a neck dissection. I awakened wanting like one thing out of NASA, I had neck drains, catheter, cannulas, feed tube.

It was so laborious seeing my neck scar for the primary time and my crooked smile, however to me I used to be so, so relieved I didn’t have the primary operation.

I recovered nicely and spent 5 days in hospital, which was so laborious being with out my son for that lengthy, however it needed to be finished. I returned residence on the fifth December and nothing felt the identical, I had one more ready sport to see if I wanted radiotherapy.

On seventeenth December I obtained cellphone name and was instructed my surgical procedure was a hit and I didn’t want radiotherapy.

I bear in mind the cellphone name, I actually fell to the ground, I used to be so blissful.

On the twentieth December I used to be put into remission, I used to be instructed the most cancers was caught very early and the lymph nodes in my neck was clear that was the perfect Christmas current! 

I’ve month-to-month evaluations and to date, so good, I’m recovering nicely however I’m mentally scarred and seeing councillors for this.

The entire level of my story is EARLY DIAGNOSIS is vital! Test your mouth, in case you discover something irregular get it checked out, go to the dentist extra.

Age is only a quantity, I’m 23 a non-smoker and don’t drink but I nonetheless received the mouth most cancers, it solely takes 45 seconds to examine your mouth, DO IT!!

For extra details about mouth most cancers, together with find out how to spot the illness early, find out how to cut back your danger and what to do in case you discover any of the early warning indicators, go to www.mouthcancer.org.