Patient Stories 2 - Throat Cancer Foundation

Against All Odds: Michael’s Extraordinary Battle with Throat Cancer as it Returns and His Unstoppable Will to Keep Moving

June 23, 2025

“Given two choices — palliative care or major surgery — 71-year-old Michael chose to fight. Just a month after surviving a life-saving laryngectomy, he’s walking 5K with his daughter and 8-year-old granddaughter to raise money for others battling throat cancer.” In late 2024, Michael and his family were hit with devastating news: the return of

This Is What HPV Can Do: Mark’s Throat Cancer Story Must Be Heard

June 7, 2025

In 2018, Mark Johnson generously shared his deeply personal experience of HPV-related throat cancer with us at the Throat Cancer Foundation. It was one of the most powerful and harrowing accounts we had ever published — a stark portrait of the life-or-death decisions he and his young family were forced to face at the time.

Paul Younger and Jamie Rae - two HPV related throat cancer patients

Paul Younger, my throat cancer 7 years on, and Jamie Rae and HPV

June 5, 2025

Seven years ago, Paul Younger was nearing the end of treatment for HPV-related base of tongue and tonsillar throat cancer. He was anxiously awaiting the results of a final scan that would determine whether the combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy had been successful. Paul was diagnosed in January 2018 after discovering a persistent lump in his

Rachel and Martin’s Story: When HPV Changed our Lives

April 9, 2025

In 2020, in the thick of lockdown, our world turned upside down. Martin was diagnosed with throat cancer. It came completely out of the blue, and what made it even more shocking was the cause: a virus. Not COVID-19, as one might assume during that year, but HPV – the human papillomavirus. We were floored.

“It Was Just a Sore Throat… Until It Was Cancer”

April 7, 2025

Jane Mallan’s Journey Through the Storm of Throat Cancer In December 2023, just before Christmas, I felt the first tickle. A sore throat. Nothing major — it’s winter, after all. Everyone gets that scratchy feeling. I shrugged it off. But by January, nothing had changed. No improvement. My GP said it was a viral infection,

Jane Mallan’s Story

June 24, 2024

In December 2023, just before Christmas, I had what I thought was the start of a simple sore throat and with it being winter, assumed it was just the seasonal throat thing. However, when it hadn’t improved by January, I made an appointment with my doctor. The doctor took a look and diagnosed a viral

A place to remember ‘Bod’

June 17, 2024

On the 15th of January 2023, David ‘Bod’ Bodimeade sadly passed away from a throat cancer, with his beloved wife, Debbie and wonderful daughter, Becky at his bedside holding his hands. He was aged 73, and a retired policeman. You can read more about David, here … Remembering David Bodimeade One of David’s many passions

Throat Cancer Foundation ambassador, Jon Organ shares his daily routine he undertakes to look after his stoma

May 25, 2023

Jon Organ, 57 year old, family man, from the south of England was diagnosed with stage 4 laryngeal cancer in late 2022. After having to have a laryngectomy and enduring several tough weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy follow up treatment, Jon was fitted with stoma. It hasn’t been the easiest of journey for Jon and

Jon Organ’s experience of living with a laryngectomy

April 20, 2023

I wake at 6 am load my nebuliser mask up and sit for 1.5 hours to clear my trachea from the night’s dryness. This allows me to breath. Once done, I then moisturise a lot on my head, face, and neck. I change my base plate that holds my Heat Moisture Exchange (HME) on to

Jon’s story, “I speak, breathe, sneeze, cough, pretty much everything through a hole in my neck”

April 16, 2023

My name is Jon Organ. I’m a 57 year old builder that runs a building company in the south of England as well as a building consultancy company dealing with health and safety. I am very much a family man. I married my wonderful wife Nicky 36 years ago and between us we have raised