Sometimes, the smallest change in the body can point to a serious illness. For 51-year-old Clare Davis-Eaton from Grimsby in the United Kingdom, a pea-sized lump in her neck in 2015 turned out to be the first sign of a long and life-altering medical battle.
Initially dismissing the swelling as harmless, Clare later sought medical attention. Tests revealed that she was suffering from base of tongue cancer, which had already spread to her lymph nodes. The diagnosis in March 2016, she said, marked the most frightening moment of her life.
What followed was six weeks of aggressive treatment, including daily radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The sessions left her severely weakened and emotionally drained. However, in November 2016, doctors declared her cancer-free,
news she described as feeling like “Christmas had come early”.
The relief was short-lived. In 2019, Clare discovered another lump in her neck. Further investigations confirmed a recurrence of the disease. Surgeons removed lymph nodes from the right side of her neck, but traces of cancer remained, forcing doctors to recommend another round of radiotherapy in the same area, a procedure carrying a 20% risk of death.
When Clare asked about the consequences of refusing treatment, she was told she would have only 6 months to live. Determined to fight, she immediately agreed to proceed. Fearing she might not survive until December, she even put up her Christmas tree in October that year to make sure she could celebrate the festival with her children, Dominic and Georgia, and her elderly mother.
Despite the gruelling final weeks of therapy, which required hospitalisation, Clare was determined to return home by Christmas. Her perseverance paid off. On her 50th birthday in August 2024, doctors officially declared her cancer-free, ending an 8-year ordeal.
The recovery, however, has come at a cost. Due to the effects of radiotherapy, Clare now struggles to swallow food and has lost her sense of taste. She often feels as though she is choking. Yet, she remains grateful.
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