In March 2016, Jeff Bradford first noticed a tickly throat after working on the rafters of his gym. He initially believed his sore throat was due to dust and insulation from renovating his gym, thinking it was a minor irritation from the construction work. After a fortnight with no improvement, Jeff visited his GP, who diagnosed 'classic tonsillitis' and prescribed antibiotics.
When symptoms persisted despite this treatment, Jeff saw a different doctor who prescribed a stronger course of antibiotics and took a throat swab, eventually referring him to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further evaluation. At Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, a specialist assessed Jeff and arranged a biopsy to investigate the persistent throat issue. During surgery, the surgeon told Jeff the thumb-sized mass at the back of his throat had doubled in size since the previous scan and advised its immediate removal to prevent further complications.
After surgery, the surgeon told Jeff he likely had stage three cancer, indicating an advanced and aggressive form of the disease. Doctors informed Jeff that his throat cancer was triggered by the HPV16 strain, a specific type of human papillomavirus. HPV16 can be transmitted through sexual activity, most commonly oral sex, which explains how the virus entered his system.
Doctors believed Jeff contracted HPV16 decades earlier, prior to meeting his wife Heidi Bradford, suggesting a long latency period before symptoms emerged. Jeff endured chemotherapy and 35 rounds of radiotherapy for his throat cancer, undergoing an intensive treatment regimen to combat the disease. Radiotherapy caused severe burns on Jeff's neck, leaving him bed-bound for three months as he recovered from the side effects.
Jeff is now a decade clear of cancer, marking a significant milestone in his recovery and highlighting the challenges he overcame.