Robert was 52 when he was diagnosed with advanced HPV-related squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. His cancer was found after months of symptoms that were first put down to allergies. By the time he reached specialist care, Robert had already experienced a sore throat, coughing up blood, hearing problems in one ear, and a
“I knew something wasn’t right” Victoria Workman is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired Children’s Work Manager from Worthing. Before throat cancer became part of her life, Victoria’s world was built around the things many people recognise: family, work, children, community, routine, responsibility and the busy rhythm of everyday life. She was not expecting cancer.
Rab Connell knew something was wrong when he began struggling to swallow. Months later, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 hypopharyngeal throat cancer. His surgery saved his life — but changed it forever. Rab Connell first began experiencing difficulty swallowing in September 2024. He knew something was not right. He made several visits to his
International HPV Awareness Day is marked every year on 4 March. For the Throat Cancer Foundation, it’s also a day to say something plainly: without our founder, Jamie Rae, thousands of boys in the UK would still be growing up without the protection they deserve. Jamie didn’t just raise awareness. He helped force a national
I was a professional singer. My voice wasn’t simply how I earned a living — it was how I made sense of myself. It was confidence, identity, connection. It was the part of me that walked into a room first, before my body did. When your voice is your work, your voice is also your
For nine months, I was trying to explain that something wasn’t right. I was 45. A mum of three young children. Busy, tired, and doing what most people do — putting symptoms down to “one of those things” and trusting that if it was serious, someone would spot it. But my body kept sending signals.
In spring 2021, I shared my story with the Throat Cancer Foundation (see original here). I’d been diagnosed in September 2020 with T3 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (advanced throat cancer), during the height of the pandemic. After six intense weeks of inpatient chemoradiotherapy, I was told there was no evidence of disease. Back then, I
Today, Mark is at home, surrounded by the people he fought so hard to have more time with—his wife and children. He is receiving palliative care, and whilst this chapter of his journey is heartbreaking, the legacy of his resilience and openness continues to shine. When Mark Johnson first shared his story with the Throat
I’m Sharon Moreby and this is my story about how it took 18 years for me to finally get a diagnosis of HPV cancer on my tongue and why I want you to know the signs of mouth and throat cancer For years, I lived with a white, cobweb-like patch on my tongue. It wasn’t
Introduction Throat and oral cancers are often misunderstood, overlooked, or detected too late. At the Throat Cancer Foundation, the mission is clear: to raise awareness, provide support, and drive early detection for all forms of throat cancer, including those linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV). One powerful example of this mission in action is the
