A Co Tyrone man has opened up on how he survived cancer due to an early diagnosis as he urged people to be aware of the signs of throat cancer.
Kevin Campbell, from Fintona, was already aware of the impact of oesophageal cancer after the sad passing of his mum in 2007 to the illness. Almost 10 years later Kevin found himself having difficulty swallowing food, and recognised that as a symptom of the cancer.
That early detection was vital as doctors discovered a tumour in Kevin's throat.
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“My mother had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2007 and unfortunately passed away as her diagnosis came too late for surgical intervention. I was very acutely aware of the symptoms because of this,” said Kevin.
“The GP referred me for an endoscope and the doctors then discovered a tumour in my oesophagus. This was only the start of my journey with blood tests, hospital visits, exploratory checks and a decision on treatment.”
In 2017 Kevin was able to have an oesophagectomy and have the tumour removed. The keen cyclist was then able to get on with his life, but was grateful to the support shown to him by local charity OG Cancer NI.
“The key thing is early diagnosis, due to my mother it was always in the back of my mind and helped me to push forward for treatment. I was very aware.
“Early awareness is the key; if you are experiencing reflux, weight loss or having trouble swallowing, you need to be so proactive in getting yourself looked at and receiving medical advice. That’s the key.”
For those people undergoing treatment for cancer, Kevin says from experience it is important to take every day as it comes.
"Go through the process, take each stage as it comes and work towards each stage. Surround yourself with as many people as you can and take the support of the Clinical Nurse Specialist.
“You may feel bombarded with leaflets and information, which can be overwhelming. However, it’s good to talk to people who have been through it to get in the right mindset, try your best to keep a positive mental attitude.”
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