Latest news with #ClaireBarbery
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I thought my snoring was caused by a blocked nose – it was actually a sign of a skull-eroding disease
WHEN Claire Barbery first started snoring, she didn't think much of i t. But the constant 4 Claire Barbery with her husband Gary Credit: SWNS 4 The mum was diagnosed with olfactory neuroblastoma - a rare cancer in the upper part of the nasal cavity Credit: SWNS The mum-of-two nearly cancelled the hospital appointment that led to her diagnosis because she didn't want to 'waste the time' of the NHS. 'There's nothing wrong, I thought. But looking back, that decision could have cost me my life," she added. 'I started snoring, which I'd never done before. I was waking myself up, breathing through my mouth rather than my nose. 'Even then, I nearly cancelled my hospital appointment. I didn't want to waste anyone's time. I just left it and thought it was something to do with having had Covid the month before.' Read more on cancer Claire had been experiencing a continuous blockage in one side of her nose and initially put it down to the effects of regular Covid testing while working in a After a steroid spray failed to help, she sought medical advice in January 2023. Following scans and a biopsy, doctors delivered the news she had olfactory neuroblastoma - a rare cancer developing in the upper part of the nasal cavity. The 5cm tumour had already begun eroding bone at the base of her skull. Most read in Health She underwent complex surgery at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to have it removed. Claire has now partnered with UK charity - the Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness of World Head and Neck Cancer Day today, which was yesterday (27 July). The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer - as patients share their stories She added: 'If you know your body, then you've got to push. 'If there's something wrong, don't ignore it.' The procedure in January last year was performed by consultant surgeon Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in skull base procedures. It was filmed as part of the Channel 5 documentary 'Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death'. Mr Ahmed said: 'Claire had a very rare form of cancer that needed to be removed. 'Untreated, it could have metastasized and spread into the neck and the rest of the body. 4 Claire and Gary with nd daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25 Credit: SWNS 4 If you think something is wrong don't ignore it, Claire warns Credit: SWNS 'It had already gone through the skull base into the base of the brain and if left, it would have become harder and harder to treat.' The delicate operation involved removing the tumour, along with Claire's olfactory bulbs - meaning she has permanently lost her sense of smell - and reconstructing the area between her nose and brain. Mr Ahmed added: 'The key worries were operating between the left and the right eye. 'The main blood supply to the brain is in very close proximity so the risk of seizures, stroke, injury to the brain and loss of life, were all very real. 'Thankfully, the surgery was a huge success and Claire suffered no complications.' Following surgery, Claire underwent six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now under regular review with her medical team. She is gradually returning to work and since treatment finished has been enjoying holidays with her husband Gary as well as spending more time with daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25. Check your risk of head and neck cancer with a simple 60-second mirror test THERE are more than 30 areas within the head and neck where cancer can develop - from the mouth and lips to the voice box and throat. But collectively, There are around 13,000 new cases every year - or 35 every day - and numbers are increasing 30 per cent each decade, experts warn. It kills more than 4,000 annually. Symptoms of head and neck cancer can be subtle, meaning it is often diagnosed at a late stage. But the earlier it's caught, the better chance of successful treatment and ultimately, survival. (OHNCUK) has an easy 60-second self-check you can do to assess your risk at home. THE AT-HOME MIRROR TEST Find a large mirror with good lighting, then get as close as you can to it. "The early signs of head and neck cancer can be felt in and around the neck, throat and jaw," the charity said. "Check along the insides of your lips and look at your gums. Are there any lumps, bumps or red or white patches? "Look at the back of your mouth. Stick out your tongue and move it from side to side. "Don't forget to look underneath your tongue too." Next, it's time to assess the health of your neck by feeling under and around your jaw. "This area can sometimes be a bit lumpy, especially if you've had a cold or other illness recently, so learn what's normal for you," OHNCUK said. If you notice any of the following newly-developed symptoms, and you've had them for over three weeks, speak to your GP: Persistent Persistent Difficulty swallowing or Hoarseness or a Persistent cough Lump or swelling in the neck, jaw area, nose or throat (with or without pain) Earache or ear pain "A mouth check every month can really make a difference," Michelle said. "If you have any concerns or notice anything that doesn't go away for three weeks, it is important to speak with a doctor or dentist to get checked out. "The earlier you can catch cancer, the better your chances of successful treatment and recovery. "If you look at other cancers as a comparison point, early detection rates for head and neck cancers are considerably lower than other cancers. "Early-stage diagnosis for combined head and neck cancers is around 13 per cent and we want this to be at 75 per cent. "Let's work together to raise awareness of how to prevent these cancers and improve earlier diagnosis of disease."
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I thought my snoring was caused by a blocked nose – it was actually a sign of a skull-eroding disease
'There's nothing wrong, I thought. But looking back, that decision could have cost me my life,' Claire explained TERRIFYING TWIST I thought my snoring was caused by a blocked nose – it was actually a sign of a skull-eroding disease Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN Claire Barbery first started snoring, she didn't think much of it. But the constant blocked nose the 51-year-old from Newquay, Cornwall, had been living with was actually a tumour, silently eating away at the base of her skull. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Claire Barbery with her husband Gary Credit: SWNS 4 The mum was diagnosed with olfactory neuroblastoma - a rare cancer in the upper part of the nasal cavity Credit: SWNS The mum-of-two nearly cancelled the hospital appointment that led to her diagnosis because she didn't want to 'waste the time' of the NHS. 'There's nothing wrong, I thought. But looking back, that decision could have cost me my life," she added. 'I started snoring, which I'd never done before. I was waking myself up, breathing through my mouth rather than my nose. 'Even then, I nearly cancelled my hospital appointment. I didn't want to waste anyone's time. I just left it and thought it was something to do with having had Covid the month before.' Claire had been experiencing a continuous blockage in one side of her nose and initially put it down to the effects of regular Covid testing while working in a care home. After a steroid spray failed to help, she sought medical advice in January 2023. Following scans and a biopsy, doctors delivered the news she had olfactory neuroblastoma - a rare cancer developing in the upper part of the nasal cavity. The 5cm tumour had already begun eroding bone at the base of her skull. She underwent complex surgery at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to have it removed. Claire has now partnered with UK charity - the Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness of World Head and Neck Cancer Day today, which was yesterday (27 July). The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer - as patients share their stories She added: 'If you know your body, then you've got to push. 'If there's something wrong, don't ignore it.' The procedure in January last year was performed by consultant surgeon Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in skull base procedures. It was filmed as part of the Channel 5 documentary 'Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death'. Mr Ahmed said: 'Claire had a very rare form of cancer that needed to be removed. 'Untreated, it could have metastasized and spread into the neck and the rest of the body. 4 Claire and Gary with nd daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25 Credit: SWNS 4 If you think something is wrong don't ignore it, Claire warns Credit: SWNS 'It had already gone through the skull base into the base of the brain and if left, it would have become harder and harder to treat.' The delicate operation involved removing the tumour, along with Claire's olfactory bulbs - meaning she has permanently lost her sense of smell - and reconstructing the area between her nose and brain. Mr Ahmed added: 'The key worries were operating between the left and the right eye. 'The main blood supply to the brain is in very close proximity so the risk of seizures, stroke, injury to the brain and loss of life, were all very real. 'Thankfully, the surgery was a huge success and Claire suffered no complications.' Following surgery, Claire underwent six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now under regular review with her medical team. She is gradually returning to work and since treatment finished has been enjoying holidays with her husband Gary as well as spending more time with daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25.
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
I thought my snoring was caused by a blocked nose – it was actually a sign of a skull-eroding disease
WHEN Claire Barbery first started snoring, she didn't think much of i t. But the blocked nose the 51-year-old from Newquay, Cornwall, had been battling turned out to be something serious - a tumour eating away at the base of her skull. 4 The mum-of-two nearly cancelled the hospital appointment that led to her diagnosis because she didn't want to 'waste the time' of the NHS. 'There's nothing wrong, I thought. But looking back, that decision could have cost me my life," she added. 'I started snoring, which I'd never done before. I was waking myself up, breathing through my mouth rather than my nose. 'Even then, I nearly cancelled my hospital appointment. I didn't want to waste anyone's time. I just left it and thought it was something to do with having had Covid the month before.' Claire had been experiencing a continuous blockage in one side of her nose and initially put it down to the effects of regular Covid testing while working in a care home. After a steroid spray failed to help, she sought medical advice in January 2023. Following scans and a biopsy, doctors delivered the news she had olfactory neuroblastoma - a rare cancer developing in the upper part of the nasal cavity. The 5cm tumour had already begun eroding bone at the base of her skull. She underwent complex surgery at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to have it removed. Claire has now partnered with UK charity - the Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness of World Head and Neck Cancer Day today, which was yesterday (27 July). The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer - as patients share their stories She added: 'If you know your body, then you've got to push. 'If there's something wrong, don't ignore it.' The procedure in January last year was performed by consultant surgeon Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in skull base procedures. It was filmed as part of the Channel 5 documentary 'Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death'. Mr Ahmed said: 'Claire had a very rare form of cancer that needed to be removed. 'Untreated, it could have metastasized and spread into the neck and the rest of the body. 4 4 'It had already gone through the skull base into the base of the brain and if left, it would have become harder and harder to treat.' The delicate operation involved removing the tumour, along with Claire's olfactory bulbs - meaning she has permanently lost her sense of smell - and reconstructing the area between her nose and brain. Mr Ahmed added: 'The key worries were operating between the left and the right eye. 'The main blood supply to the brain is in very close proximity so the risk of seizures, stroke, injury to the brain and loss of life, were all very real. 'Thankfully, the surgery was a huge success and Claire suffered no complications.' Following surgery, Claire underwent six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now under regular review with her medical team. She is gradually returning to work and since treatment finished has been enjoying holidays with her husband Gary as well as spending more time with daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
'I thought snoring was a blocked nose - it was sign of skull-eroding disease'
Claire Barbery, 51, began snoring at night after experiencing a continuous blockage in one side of her nose - and almost cancelled her hospital appointment A mum who started snoring in her sleep after developing a blocked nose was stunned to discover her single symptom was actually a sign of rare cancer. Claire Barbery, 51, almost cancelled the hospital appointment that led to her diagnosis because she didn't want to "waste the time" of the NHS. She began experiencing a persistent blockage in one side of her nose but initially put it down to the effects of regular Covid testing while working in a care home. Claire also started snoring in her sleep for the first time and decided to get medical help after using a steroid spray without any improvement in January 2023. She was referred to an ENT specialist and following scans and a biopsy, doctors broke the devastating news that she had olfactory neuroblastoma – a rare cancer that develops in the upper part of the nasal cavity. The 5cm tumour had already started eroding bone at the base of her skull and she underwent complex surgery to have it removed at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Claire, from Newquay, Cornwall, is now urging others to seek medical advice for persistent symptoms, no matter how trivial they may seem. She said: "I very nearly cancelled that appointment because I didn't want to be wasting NHS time. There's nothing wrong, I thought. But looking back, that decision could have cost me my life. "I started snoring, which I'd never done before. I was waking myself up, breathing through my mouth rather than my nose. Even then, I nearly cancelled my hospital appointment. I didn't want to waste anyone's time I just left it and thought it was something to do with having had COVID the month before." Claire has now teamed up with UK charity Get A-Head Charitable Trust to boost awareness of World Head and Neck Cancer Day. She added: "If you know your body, then you've got to push. If there's something wrong, don't ignore it." The operation in January last year was carried out by consultant surgeon Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in skull base procedures. It was captured as part of the Channel 5 documentary 'Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death'. Mr Ahmed said: "Claire had a very rare form of cancer that needed to be removed. Untreated, it could have metastasized and spread into the neck and the rest of the body. It had already gone through the skull base into the base of the brain and if left, it would have become harder and harder to treat." The intricate operation involved extracting the tumour, along with Claire's olfactory bulbs – meaning she has permanently lost her sense of smell – and rebuilding the area between her nose and brain. Mr Ahmed added: "The key worries were operating between the left and the right eye. The main blood supply to the brain is in very close proximity so the risk of seizures, stroke, injury to the brain and loss of life, were all very real. Thankfully, the surgery was a huge success and Claire suffered no complications." After her operation, Claire endured six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now regularly reviewed by her medical team. She's slowly getting back to work and since her treatment ended, she's been enjoying holidays with her husband Gary and spending more time with her daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I thought my snoring was from blocked nose, but it was something far worse'
Cornwall mum-of-two Claire Barbery was left in shock after what she thought was a blocked nose and snoring turned out to be something much more serious A mum-of-two was left stunned after what she thought was a harmless blocked nose and new snoring habit turned out to be a sign of a rare and aggressive cancer, which was already eroding her skull. Claire Barbery, 51, from Newquay, Cornwall, had no idea her mild symptoms were anything to worry about. In fact, she nearly cancelled the very hospital appointment that would change, and possibly save, her life. Claire, who works in a care home, put her persistent nasal blockage down to repeated Covid tests and thought nothing of the fact that she had suddenly started snoring at night. She said: 'I started snoring, which I'd never done before. I was waking up breathing through my mouth. Even then, I nearly cancelled my hospital appointment. I didn't want to waste anyone's time.' But in January 2023, after months of no improvement and with her concerns growing, she finally sought help. The mum had olfactory neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that grows in the upper part of the nasal cavity. Scans revealed a 5cm tumour that had already begun eating away at the bone at the base of her skull. Claire was immediately sent for complex and high-risk surgery at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where consultant surgeon Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in the type of procedure she needed, removed the tumour in a delicate operation that was filmed for Channel 5's gripping documentary Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death. He explained: 'This was a very rare form of cancer. It had already gone through the skull base and into the base of the brain. If we hadn't acted, it could have spread through her body. The surgery was high risk – we were working close to the brain's main blood supply, with dangers of stroke, seizures, and even death.' The operation was a success, but not without cost. To ensure all the cancer was removed, surgeons had to take out Claire's olfactory bulbs, meaning she's now permanently lost her sense of smell. After her surgery, Claire underwent six gruelling weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She's now under close monitoring but is slowly returning to work and spending quality time with her husband Gary and daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25. 'I very nearly didn't go to that appointment,' Claire said. 'I thought, 'There's nothing wrong – don't waste NHS time.' But looking back, that decision could've cost me my life.' Now, as part of World Head and Neck Cancer Day, Claire is working with the UK's Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness and urge others to take persistent symptoms seriously, no matter how small they seem. She said: 'If you know your body, you've got to push. If something feels wrong – don't ignore it.'
