Oesophageal Cancer Survivor Jack Carter: ‘I was one of the lucky ones’

“It was a huge shock when I heard the words ‘you have cancer’.” Jack Carter received a diagnosis of stage 3 oesophageal cancer at the age of 25. His symptoms initially included a croaky throat and a paralysed vocal cord, which soon escalated to an inability to swallow food. Carter, a 39-year-old resident of Wheatley, stated he was “one of the lucky ones who won the battle” and now strives to live life to the fullest. Alison Birkett, a spokesperson for Cancer Research UK in the Oxford region, commented: “Thanks to our supporters, our scientists are working tirelessly to help more people like Jack.” The charity describes oesophageal cancer as “stubbornly hard to treat”. It clarified that “Currently doctors diagnose the disease using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera and light on the end that looks inside the body.” The organization further noted: “One of the biggest challenges is detecting the disease early enough to intervene.” Carter’s experience began with a cold in June 2010. He recounted: “The cold eventually went away but I still had a croak in my throat, and it was a strain to talk at times.” Carter added: “I managed to get a hospital referral and after some tests they discovered I had a paralysed vocal cord. I underwent some vocal therapy and it did help to some extent.“ He continued, “But in Sept 2010, I choked on some food and coughed it back up and I just thought I hadn’t chewed enough. But it happened again in the December and I felt it getting stuck.“ Carter further explained, “I was at work and I took myself away, dialled 111 and told the operator I was choking and couldn’t swallow my saliva. She called an ambulance and they took me into hospital.” During that Christmas, Jack’s mother was compelled to liquidise his festive meal because he was unable to consume solid food. His diagnosis was confirmed the subsequent month, following an endoscope procedure. Carter described receiving the news as “scary,” but also stated, “I couldn’t eat properly, I had gone from 11 stone to eight and a half stone, so part of me was just relieved that I had a diagnosis.” He detailed his treatment: “I had four cycles of chemo and 30 fractions of radiotherapy together. I could only take tablets in a liquid form due to my inability to swallow.” Carter recalled, “I remember on the fifth day of treatment I woke up in agony. I lived off milk shakes full of calories to build up my strength.” Doctors informed Carter that his “young and fit” condition provided an advantage, meaning surgery was not necessary. He is presently employed as a technical specialist for Sky Sports. Carter stated: “As a result of my treatment, other than the need for glasses, a paralysed vocal cord, tinnitus, acid reflux and some health anxiety, which were side affects of my treatment, I live a very normal life.” He has urged individuals to participate in Stand Up To Cancer’s 100 squats a day challenge, aiming to generate funds for future cancer advancements. Carter attributed his survival to research, saying it was “thanks to research that I’m still standing and can look forward to a future full of special moments with my loved ones”. Readers have the option to follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. This article is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Further details regarding its approach to external linking are available.