On 10th May 2018 I was diagnosed with tonsillar cancer after a routine trip to see my GP. Although I felt fine at the time what was to follow over the next couple of years certainly was a shock to my system and changed my way of life considerably. Treatment included Chemo and Radiotherapy (CRT) which can have far reaching and often life changing side effects that can continue for many years after treatment has finished and the cancer has gone. Three years on and I still have a few hurdles to overcome but I am in no doubt that I would not be here today if it wasn't for the incredible team at Guys Cancer. 

Guys Cancer is one of the fastest growing centres in Europe and the head and neck department is one of the largest in the UK, pioneering new ways to diagnose and treat people with head and neck cancer.

Every year in the UK cancers of the mouth, jaw, throat and neck affect around 12,000 new patients and as many as 1 in 3 will lose their lives yet this would not be the case if diagnosis was made earlier. The physical and mental side effects can be life changing causing eating, speaking and breathing problems for many patients, leaving them in need of long term care and support from multidisciplinary teams.

The new head and neck cancer centre will speed up the process to give earlier diagnosis, improve treatments, reduce rates of recurrence  and minimise the terrible side effects suffered by patients.

So this is where you can help. The new centre has already had some very generous donations but they still need more money to carry on the good work already started. If you can donate anything, no matter how small, I would be very grateful, as would all the members of the head and neck team. But this challenge is not just about the money.

By completing 22 challenges in 2022 in as many different social groups as possible I hope to make people aware of what appears to be a lesser known cancer, and the possible causes and signs to look out for to enable early diagnosis. Also I would like to give hope to those patients who feel that after treatment is over the side effects appear to be worse than the disease and they just can't seem to find that light at the end of the tunnel. As a H&N cancer survivor myself I would like to show them what can be achieved with a little time, patience, a bit of hard work and the incredible support of the head and neck team.

NOW, AND I MIGHT REGRET THIS, I ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL CHALLENGES IN PLACE FOR 2022 BUT I AM ASKING YOU TO JOIN IN BY SETTING ME YOUR OWN CHALLENGE. I WILL CONSIDER EVERY ONE AND IF I THINK I CAN DO IT SAFELY AND SUCCESSFULLY I'LL GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT. ALSO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME ON ANY OF THE CHALLENGES I WILL BE VERY PLEASED TO TEAM UP AND HAVE SOME FUN ALONG THE WAY.

DETAILS OF ALL CHALLENGES WILL BE POSTED ON REGULAR UPDATES TO THIS PAGE OR

FACEBOOK

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TWITTER

Twitter.com/geoff22in22

or you can email me at geoff22in22@gmail.com

GO ON - I DARE YOU - CHALLENGE ME !!