Hi Everyone

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.  Many of you will already know about my fight against mouth or oral cancer and my continuing journey through recovery.  Learning to speak properly again has been an interesting journey in itself!  My message is, I have been very lucky.  I say this because my cancer was caught relatively early and at this time, I am now cancer free!  

I had tongue cancer with my first operation on 23 August 2017 lasting several hours followed by a couple of weeks stay in York Hospital.  This was followed some time later by two further operations again staying in York Hospital.  My journey started weeks before with consultations, examinations, biopsies, tests and various scans.  I am not going to go into all the gory details lest to say it has been a very unpleasant but in many ways a positive experience for me. 

My important message to you: cancers such as breast, prostate, bowel and cervical are well publicised.  They have a devastating impact on lives. Most people will know someone who has been affected and some of my close family members have been through these cancers in the past.  Mouth cancer is relatively rare accounting for only about 2% of all cancers diagnosed in the UK each year.  Finding it early is crucial! If detected early, about 90% of cases can be treated by surgery alone with excellent outcomes and without the need for prolonged radiotherapy or chemotherapy.  My message to everyone is: Mouth Cancer Sucks - Check It Out! Don't be shy, have a good look around inside your mouth with plenty of light for anything that looks out of place.  Any unusual white or red spots, ulcers, lumps or abnormal blemishes particularly if they haven't gone in two weeks, anywhere inside the mouth, check it out!  Have regular checkups at your dentist as they too can detect early signs of cancer.

To find out more about the symptoms and treatment please visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer

I have been very lucky.  I have received so much support and encouragement from all my family and so many kind messages from friends and colleagues.  This has really helped and kept me going through some of the harder times. Again, I have been very lucky.  I have received and continue to receive excellent treatment from all the staff at York Hospital, particular from my care team at the Head and Neck Cancer Unit (my surgeons, speech and swallow specialists, nutritionist and someone who I call my care nurse who has been with me every step of the way).  They have all been absolutely amazing and I could never thank them enough. 

I set myself a personal milepost of two years following my first operation with this anniversary falling on the 23 August this year.  To celebrate (yes, I do mean celebrate), I am doing a 15,000 feet tandem parachute jump at Hibaldstow Skydive Centre. 

This is where you can help!  I have already paid for the cost of the jump and I am now trying to raise as much as possible to support the York Against Cancer charity with all monies collected going directly to the charity for the benefit of the Head and Neck Cancer Unit at York Hospital.

I do understand that money can be quite tight at the moment but any donation at all will be much appreciated not only by myself but by the many who will really benefit from your very kind generosity in the future.  Thank you so much.  Lyndon (Wally)