In March 2016, Jeff Bradford, a 62-year-old from Scotland, developed a sore throat. Jeff Bradford initially thought his sore throat was caused by dust from gym renovations. His GP initially diagnosed him with tonsillitis and prescribed antibiotics.
A different doctor later gave Jeff Bradford stronger antibiotics and took a throat swab and photos. Jeff Bradford was referred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a consultation. Specialists at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary said the throat lesion looked very sinister and arranged an urgent biopsy.
He was diagnosed with stage three oropharyngeal cancer, and doctors told Jeff Bradford the HPV may have been in his body for decades, possibly over 30 years. Jeff Bradford underwent surgery to remove the tumor, which was the size of a thumb, and received 35 sessions of radiotherapy starting in August 2016. He was eventually given the all-clear after treatment.
HPV is an extremely common virus spread through skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity. HPV can lead to serious diseases and is known to cause cancers including head and neck cancers. Cases of head and neck cancers have been rising in recent years.
The diagnosis came after months of persistent symptoms that were initially mistaken for less serious conditions. The urgent referral and biopsy confirmed the aggressive nature of the cancer, which required extensive treatment. The successful outcome highlights the importance of early detection and advanced medical interventions for HPV-related cancers.