Warning after Midland man mistakes aggressive cancer for mouth ulcer

Dan Durant, 26, first noticed he had an ulcer on the right side of his tongue in summer last year but didn't think anything of it

A man claims that accidentally biting his tongue led to a life-saving cancer diagnosis, after he initially mistook the symptoms for an ulcer. Dan Durant, 26, first noticed what he thought was an ulcer on the right side of his tongue in the summer of last year, but didn't think much of it.

However, when Dan sneezed and inadvertently bit his tongue, the lump became inflamed, prompting him to seek medical advice. He was taken aback when he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma - a type of cancer - and informed that it was aggressive and required surgical removal of the tumour.

In a gruelling 11-hour operation, medics removed 50 per cent of Dan's tongue to excise the two tumours they discovered, reconstructing it using skin from his left forearm.

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They also performed a neck dissection to remove cancerous lymph nodes. Dan, from Stafford, and worked as a bar supervisor, is currently awaiting biopsy results to determine if further treatment is necessary. Recalling the incident, Dan said: "I sneezed really hard and ended up biting my tongue. It went really inflamed.

"I was directed to Stoke Hospital and told it was cancer and it was aggressive. I had around 50 per cent of my tongue removed and reconstructed. The nurse said 'you were lucky you bit your tongue'."

Dan often suffered from ulcers, so he didn't think much of the lump on his tongue when he first noticed it in August 2023. He initially treated the issue with Bonjela and didn't give it much thought, also experiencing significant weight loss and a persistent sore throat without realising the severity of his symptoms.

Dan recalled: "It was a grey, whitish patch. It was the size of a one pence coin. I didn't think of it after that. Mostly it just felt like it wasn't there."

However, in April 2024, Dan began to notice the ulcer once more, and by August, it became inflamed after he accidentally bit it. Concerned, he visited his GP who suspected cancer and referred him to Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

A week later, on August 21, 2024, Dan's fears were confirmed when his cancer diagnosis was given. Reflecting on the moment, Dan said: "I didn't quite believe it could be cancer. Being told it was upsetting. I did have a cry. It was so surreal."

Doctors informed Dan that the cancer was aggressive and surgery was urgent to remove the tumour. On September 12, 2024, Dan underwent an extensive 11-and-a-half-hour operation.

Surgeons had intended only to partially remove his tongue but discovered a second tumour, leading them to excise half of it. During the procedure, they also removed a cancerous lymph node from his neck for a biopsy to ensure the cancer hadn't spread.

Dan explained the reconstructive process: "They took skin from my forearm for my tongue and then the skin from my stomach to replace skin on my arm. They also used my the arteries from my forearm and put them into my tongue so there was a blood flow."

Dan was hospitalised for eight days post-reconstruction to monitor any potential issues and to adjust to eating and drinking once again. He's currently on a diet of soft foods while he awaits the results from his lymph node biopsy.

On the experience, Dan shared: "Learning to swallow properly was quite difficult. I'm just getting used to chewing. My jaw aches a lot. It's a lot of relearning things. If there is little to no cancer cells left I will just be one round of radiotherapy."

The timing was particularly tough for Dan as he had been on the cusp of starting a new job but now finds himself unable to work. Not only is Dan focused on raising awareness, but he has also launched an online fundraising initiative to cover living expenses over the upcoming months, vowing to donate any surplus funds to cancer research.

He expressed heartfelt gratitude towards his family and friends for being a "wonderful supportive network". Reflecting on his journey, Dan remarked: "Everything is normal and then all of a sudden it is not. It's a life-changing thing."