Doctor's urgent three week cancer warning after Jamie Theakston's devastating diagnosis

Heart Radio host and TV personality Jamie Theakston delivered the devastating news on Instagram, telling his followers that he had undergone surgery for laryngeal cancer

Brits are being warned to be on the lookout for a specific symptom following the shock cancer diagnosis of Jamie Theakston.

Jamie - who currently works for Heart Radio - recently took to Instagram to deliver the devastating news he had cancer of the larynx, or laryngeal cancer. Thankfully, he said that his outlook now looks "positive" after undergoing surgery to get rid of the cancerous lesion. The news has triggered a huge influx of enquiries on the NHS website, with the health service reporting a 13-fold increase in searches for the condition in the past week. The disease, which affects around 2,000 people in the UK each year, is relatively unknown, with a Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor survey of 500 UK adults showing that 60 per cent of the population had never heard of it. Six per cent of Brits heard of it for the first time following Jamie's announcement.

Another worrying find was that nine in 10 people, around 88 per cent, don't feel confident identifying the symptoms. Doctor Neel Patel, a GP from Lloyds, wanted to offer his expertise so people know what to be on the lookout for. Dr Patel said: “Laryngeal cancer affects the larynx (also called the voice box). This form of throat cancer sees more than 2,000 new diagnoses per year, according to the NHS.”

If you experience a hoarse voice for more than three weeks, this is a major indicator that should not be ignored. If your voice sounds breathy or strained, or the pitch has changed, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. “The most common symptom of laryngeal cancer which people may notice first is a hoarse voice that lasts more than three weeks,” he said. "Additional symptoms include; other changes in your voice, difficulty swallowing, swelling or lumps in the neck, a persistent cough or sore throat and sometimes difficulty breathing. If you’ve been experiencing these symptoms, I would highly recommend that you visit your GP who may refer you to see a specialist. Diagnosis may take the form of a nasendoscopy (small camera inserted through the nostril), laryngoscopy (a camera inserted down the throat), or biopsy (taking a sample of cells for testing).”

Treatment

Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, cancer medications, and surgery are the most common treatments for laryngeal cancer. Dr Patel explained: “If the cancer is advanced, surgery may involve the removal of the larynx. This results in losing the ability to speak or breathe normally. Instead, you would need a stoma in your neck (a hole which allows you to breathe).”

Causes

Doctors are still stumped as to the exact cause of laryngeal cancer, but there are certain things than can increase your chances of developing it. Dr Patel said: "Smoking massively increases your risk of lung, mouth, and throat cancers. Those scared they may be at risk of developing this form of cancer should work to stop smoking. Regular binge drinking, unhealthy and unbalanced diets, exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos, and a family history of laryngeal cancer can all also increase your risk.”

In his statement on social media, Jamie Theakston said: "As you know - I recently had an operation to remove a lesion from my vocal cords. The biopsy has identified this as stage one laryngeal cancer. So - I have cancer - but cancer doesn't have me. The prognosis is very positive and I'm hoping to be back with you in October.”