When 67-year-old Peter Young was featured in an interview by his local BBC news station, he was thrilled to see himself on television. However, this seemingly routine event turned into a pivotal moment that would profoundly impact his life.
Peter, a Blackpool resident, has spent the past twenty years as a tribute artist, performing as the late American rockstar Meat Loaf. His repertoire includes iconic hits like “I’d Do Anything for Love.” When Meat Loaf, whose real name was Michael Lee Aday, passed away in January 2021, BBC Look North sought Peter’s reaction for a segment.
“I was honored to be invited,” Peter recalls. “I participated in the interview via Zoom, and then thought little of it.” Yet, upon viewing the broadcast later that day, Peter was struck by a noticeable gap in his lower teeth that he hadn’t previously recognized.
Initially, Peter’s concern was not for his health but for his career. “I worried that if I noticed the gap, the audience would too during my performances,” he says. With a holiday in Cyprus imminent, Peter didn’t have time to see a UK dentist and instead consulted a local dentist in Cyprus. She advised him to wait until he returned home for a more thorough evaluation, a decision for which Peter is now grateful.
Upon returning, Peter visited his UK dentist, who expressed immediate concern not about the gap, but about the condition of Peter’s gums. “The skin around my upper teeth had been loose and tender, but never painful,” Peter explains. His dentist quickly sought a second opinion, and both professionals suspected mouth cancer.
In the UK, approximately 9,000 new cases of mouth cancer are diagnosed annually, with a significant increase in the last decade. Contributing factors include difficulties in accessing NHS dental services, as recent studies show only 40% of people have seen an NHS dentist in the past two years, and a quarter have been unable to secure an appointment. This has led to a deterioration in national dental health, raising the risk of infections and conditions like mouth cancer. Over the past decade, deaths from mouth cancer have surged by 46%, highlighting the critical need for early detection.
Peter’s situation was no different. Following his referral to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, a biopsy confirmed Stage 4 mouth cancer, the most advanced stage. The cancer had affected the roof of his mouth, causing the gum issues.
The diagnosis was a devastating blow for Peter. “I had never considered mouth cancer,” he says, noting there was no family history of the disease. The prospect of losing his singing career further compounded his distress. “The doctor told me that I might never perform again, which was heart-wrenching.”
Peter underwent a grueling 12-hour surgery to remove the cancer, during which surgeons reconstructed his mouth using skin and nerves from his wrist and arm. The surgery was successful, and after months of recovery, Peter’s voice had sufficiently recovered to resume performing.
Peter is set to take the stage again with his band at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens in May next year, marking his first performance since his diagnosis. “My voice is as strong as ever,” he affirms, though he has lost a significant amount of weight.
Reflecting on his experience, Peter credits his TV appearance with saving his life. “Without that interview, I might not have noticed the dental issue that led to the diagnosis,” he says. “I had no significant symptoms beyond a dull ache and a noticeable flap of skin on my gum. It was only upon seeing myself on TV that I realized something was wrong.”
Experts underscore that early detection of mouth cancer can be challenging. “The cancer is often painless, which means patients may not be aware of it,” explains Prof. Michaelina Macluskey, a specialist in head and neck cancer at the University of Dundee. “Additionally, the disease can develop in hard-to-see areas, making self-examination difficult.”
Prof. Macluskey advises monitoring for persistent ulcers, white or red patches, lumps in the mouth, loose teeth, and altered gum sensations. Symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, unexplained bleeding, neck lumps, weight loss, changes in voice quality, and restricted jaw movement are also important to watch for.
Peter now advocates for regular dental check-ups, reflecting on his own past negligence with regret. “I only visited the dentist when there was a problem, like toothache,” he admits. “I encourage everyone to have their mouths checked regularly to prevent issues like mine.”
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