A Warwick man has been given a second chance at life thanks to his dog, who alerted him to an aggressive cancerous tumour that required extensive surgery. Mark Allen, 65, underwent a 10-hour operation to remove the tumour from his nose and subsequently faced a major facial reconstruction.
Mark, a father of two, ignored troubling symptoms for nearly a year, which allowed the tumour to spread across the right side of his face. He recalls how his dog Jessie began behaving unusually, clinging to him and acting in a way that made him suspect something was wrong. “I couldn’t breathe out of my right nostril for about a year due to a polyp. Jessie was acting oddly, and I think she knew something was amiss,” he explained.
When he finally visited the doctor and received test results, Mark suspected the worst. “I think I’d already worked out it was going to be cancer because of Jessie’s behaviour,” he said. Unfortunately, by the time he sought medical advice, his cancer had progressed to stage four. He was informed that without surgery, he would only have weeks to live.
“The thought of disfigurement to your face is daunting, but I had no choice but to go ahead with the operation,” he said. During the lengthy procedure, surgeons removed the tumour along with half of his face, replacing his cheekbone with a piece of his pelvis and his jaw with titanium plates. They also reconstructed the roof of his mouth and throat using tissue from his abdomen and removed lymph nodes and saliva glands to prevent further cancer spread.
Following the surgery, Mark endured several weeks of recovery and subsequent intensive radiotherapy. “I lost three and a half stone, the hair on one side of my head, and I also lost all taste, so eating became about survival,” he recalled.
Despite the challenges, Mark remains optimistic and wants to help others avoid a similar fate. He has partnered with the Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness about head and neck cancer. “I promised myself two things when I was diagnosed: that I wouldn’t feel sorry for myself, and that some good would come from my situation,” he said.
Danni Heath, Director of the Get A-Head Trust, noted the importance of Mark’s story. “It’s one of hope and survival, but also a reality for many people. Head and neck cancer cases in the UK are rising by 3% annually, with most diagnosed at advanced stages, leading to more invasive treatments,” she said.
She emphasised the charity’s mission to improve the lives of those affected by funding research and providing essential equipment. “We hope people will take Mark’s advice seriously and seek medical help if they experience any concerning symptoms.”
Key symptoms of head and neck cancer include persistent sore throat, neck lumps, painful swallowing, earache, and persistent blocked nose. Mark’s experience serves as a reminder of the critical importance of early detection and seeking medical advice.