The Wait for a Crucial Scan

When I was first diagnosed with head and neck cancer, I quickly learned that time is everything. The sooner a test is done, the sooner a diagnosis is confirmed, and the sooner treatment can begin. But what happens when the system doesn't work the way it should? When a simple routine scan turns into weeks of uncertainty and anxiety?

When Mark (named changed for privacy reasons) was diagnosed with head and neck cancer, he braced himself for the gruelling treatments ahead. Radiation therapy, he was told, would be his best chance at survival. What he wasn’t prepared for, however, was the lasting impact it would have on his ability to do something as simple as opening his mouth.

At just 42 years old, Sione* finds himself standing at a crossroads. A proud Tongan father of five, Sione is known for his warm smile and dedication to his family. But today, he faces a challenge that shakes his sense of control: he’s preparing for life-saving head and neck cancer surgery. His journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward.

Sione first noticed something wasn’t right more than a year ago. Persistent soreness in his throat, difficulty swallowing, and a nagging lump on his neck prompted him to visit multiple general practitioners. Despite his concerns, his symptoms were dismissed as minor infections or stress-related issues. It wasn’t until he advocated for himself relentlessly that he was finally referred to a specialist. By then, the diagnosis was serious.

A patents shares their story of head and neck cancer.