Dad, 47, recognized with most cancers after affected by blocked nostril

Mark Hallums, 47, from Knaphill, in Surrey, began affected by blocked nose and nosebleeds in 2020, which medical doctors initially attributed to a polyp in his left nostril.

The dad of sons aged 18 and 16, and a 14-year-old daughter, was then prescribed antibiotics and steroids.

However, the treatment didn’t make any distinction to his signs, so he was referred to an ear, nostril, and throat (ENT) specialist.

Following a collection of checks, Mark was recognized with a uncommon type of cancer, often called adenoid cystic carcinoma.

However, the dad’s analysis was much more uncommon because it had grown in his nostril reasonably than within the salivary glands the place it normally happens.

Mark, who works for a market analysis firm, mentioned: “I noticed that when I lay down, my left nostril would feel a bit blocked. 

“I also started to get a couple of weird nosebleeds, which was peculiar for me because I’d never suffered from them before.

“I have private healthcare through work so I was quickly referred to an ENT specialist at Mount Alvernia Hospital at the end of February that year.

“The consultant took one look up my nose and said, ‘I don’t like the look of that at all’. Life took a different turn right then.”

Mark needed to bear biopsy, MRI and CT scans which acquired him recognized with the non-aggressive tumour.

The dad was informed the “best” strategy to focus on the cancerous wrongdoer can be by surgical procedures and radiotherapy.

The majority of Mark’s tumour was surgically eliminated, nevertheless it was found that cancerous cells had touched the bottom of his cranium, leaving the dad in want of an extra eight-hour process with skull-base and neurology specialists.

While each surgical procedures had been a hit, the medical doctors additionally really useful a type of radiotherapy, often called proton remedy, to make sure all of the remaining traces of the tumour had been destroyed.

Proton remedy targets cancerous cells with pencil-point precision.

The stage of accuracy meant it was in a position to spare surrounding tissue, which was significantly necessary in Mark’s case, with the tumour website being so near his eyes, mind and different delicate organs within the head.

This kind of remedy is offered in NHS centres in Manchester and London, however Mark was not in a position to be seen in the popular timeline given his age and the non-aggressive nature of his tumour.

It was then determined the perfect plan of action can be to work with the group on the Proton Therapy Center in Prague, Czech Republic.

In October 2022, Mark obtained the “second to none” remedy over the course of seven weeks.

“I was made to feel exceptionally well cared for, with a superb team of expert professionals,” he mentioned.

A 12 months to the day after his analysis, Mark acquired the all-clear from his medical doctors and is now attending yearly scans.

He added: “I’m pretty sure I haven’t fully dealt with what I have gone through. 

“It has been a fairly tough year, but without the fabulous support of all of the healthcare teams I’ve been looked after by, it would have been quite a different story. In many ways, I feel lucky!”