His tonsillitis was initially treated by doctors with antibiotics, but the symptoms did not go away. He was referred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary months after the initial symptoms first surfaced in 2016, where additional testing indicated a more serious condition.
Jeff recounted, “I didn’t have a fever. A different doctor gave me stronger antibiotics. He was a little suspicious of it and took some pictures.”
He was given a stage three throat cancer diagnosis by June 2016 following surgery. A week later, medical professionals were shocked to learn that the malignancy was connected to the sexually transmitted virus HPV16. HPV is typically contracted through oral sex. It’s likely been in your body for more than 30 years, so I was completely surprised it was from that.
Jeff, a 62-year-old Forres resident, claimed he was unaware that the virus may remain dormant for decades before turning into cancer. He remarked, “You just go about life. You don’t expect when you’re young, ‘do that and I might get cancer when I’m 50-odd.”
He described the 35 radiotherapy sessions as excruciatingly painful, saying, “Radiotherapy caused really bad burns.” It felt like a blowtorch was applied to my throat. In August 2016, Jeff received the all-clear despite the trauma.
He is now sharing his story to increase awareness and motivate people to treat symptoms seriously, almost ten years later. “I have no problem discussing that. It’s a typical sexual activity with someone you love, but if it’s not discussed, people might avoid treatment.” If you don’t press it, it could be easily overlooked.
