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 neck that refused to go down. He received treatment at Guy’s Cancer Centre, where he was supported by a dedicated clinical team. In July of that year, he was given the all-clear. He vividly remembers sitting in the reception area at Guy’s and shedding tears of relief and gratitude—finally finished with what one consultant had accurately described as “medieval treatment.”
From the outset, Paul was supported by Jamie Rae, Founder and CEO of the Throat Cancer Foundation. Jamie visited Paul during treatment and offered constant reassurance. Shortly after diagnosis, Jamie helped connect Paul with the Daily Mail, which followed his treatment journey to raise awareness and apply pressure on the government to approve the Gardasil HPV vaccination for boys—a campaign that ultimately succeeded.
Now, seven years on, Paul continues to live with the side effects of his treatment. He experiences swallowing difficulties and reduced saliva production, requiring regular use of sprays and Biotene throughout the night. Eating out, once a pleasure, has become a practical task. He chews each mouthful thoroughly, with a pint of water always nearby—both to aid swallowing and to reduce the risk of choking.
While Paul acknowledges that these are small sacrifices for the gift of survival, the more significant and ongoing challenge has been the mental burden of cancer survivorship—especially given that his cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. Despite the passing years, he remains in a state of high vigilance. He’s been back in hospital several times due to suspicious symptoms, and the anxiety around recurrence remains ever-present. He routinely checks his head and neck for irregularities, and he’s come to accept that the psychological effects of cancer will likely stay with him for life.
In addition to these concerns, Paul now lives with spinal discomfort caused by cervical spine degradation, which affects his sleep. While he acknowledges this could be linked to decades of office work, some of the other symptoms—pulsatile tinnitus in both ears, numbness in his hands and fingers—have been potentially linked to radiotherapy by some specialists, though not definitively.
As an open and sociable person, Paul has also faced the social stigma associated with an HPV-related diagnosis. He finds himself regularly explaining why he eats slowly in public and often feels the need to share his story. The mention of HPV can sometimes provoke confusion, with some people mistakenly associating it with HIV. This has caused embarrassment, despite the reality that HPV is an extremely common virus. As Paul rightly points out, HPV doesn’t discriminate—and he considers himself unlucky rather than irresponsible.
Now semi-retired after over 40 years working in the City of London, Paul remains deeply grateful to Guy’s Cancer Centre and to Jamie Rae, whom he describes as his “beacon of light in a stormy sea.” While he still faces both mental and physical challenges, Paul continues to live life with purpose and hope—looking forward to the possibility of seeing grandchildren one day.
In those early days of diagnosis, Paul was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. But his message today is a simple yet powerful one: this illness can be beaten. Since his recovery, he has travelled across Europe annually, visited New York twice at Christmastime, and even witnessed his beloved Crystal Palace win the FA Cup Final at Wembley.
To anyone newly diagnosed or currently undergoing treatment, Paul encourages them to trust their clinical team, follow the advice given, and most importantly, to never lose hope. He welcomes anyone needing support to reach out to him directly.
To read Paul’s original article in the Daily Mail, click here. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5566131/HPV-patient-documents-half-gruelling-chemo-sessions.html
If you would also like to support Jamie Rae’s legacy and the Throat Cancer Foundation’s work in raising awareness of HPV related throat cancers, please donate here. https://www.justgiving.com/page/jamierae
