Dad-of-two who had half his face removed after family dog sniffed out aggressive tumour is given second chance at life
A DAD who would have been “dead within weeks” if his dog didn’t sniff his stage 4 cancer has been given a second chance at life.
Mark Allen, 65, who was given just weeks to live after being diagnosed with an aggressive tumour is urging Brits to look out for symptoms.
The brutal cancer had spread across most of the right side of the consultancy CEO’s face as he ignored symptoms for nearly 12 months.
The father-of-two noticed his now late collie cross Jessie acting strangely in the lead up to his diagnosis.
The Warwick man said he thought nothing of her nudging, pawing and overly affectionate behaviour but now attributes it to her sensing his ill health.
This prompted him to go to the doctors, where he underwent a gruelling operation and facial reconstruction to remove the growth.
While Mark ignored his symptoms for almost a year, he is now urging others to not do the same.
Mark said: “I couldn’t breathe out of my right nostril for about a year or so because of a polyp.
“At the time, we had three dogs, and Jessie was acting oddly, clinging around my legs and behaving in a closeness she had not previously done.
“When I finally went to see the doctor and get the results of some tests, I think I’d already worked out it was going to be cancer because of Jessie’s behaviour.
“Had I gone to the doctors earlier, I’m sure the treatment would not have been as severe as it turned out to be, but I’d allowed the cancer to get to stage 4.
“I asked the consultant what would happen if I did not have surgery and he replied to say I would be dead within weeks.
“Our faces are like our most visible fingerprint.
“They are a massive part of our identity and the thought of disfigurement to your face is daunting, but I had no choice but to go ahead with the operation.”
Tragically his dog Jessie, who was 10 at the time died in 2019, according to MailOnline.
Mark spent more than 10 hours on the operating table while surgeons removed the tumour and half of his face along with it back in November 2017.
His cheek bone was replaced with a chunk of his pelvis bone, and his jaw was swapped for titanium plates.
Surgeons also rebuilt the roof of his mouth and throat with tissue from his abdomen.
They also removed his eye socket and took away the lymph nodes and saliva glands from the right side of his neck to stop the cancer spreading any further.
Mark said: “They managed to get the tumour out cleanly but had to remove my eye socket, which is now titanium mesh.
“My cheekbone is now made out of my pelvic bone.”
Following the operation and several weeks of recovery, he had to undergo intensive radiotherapy as part of his post-op care.
He added: “The ongoing radiotherapy was quite nasty.
“I lost three and half stone, the hair on the one side of my head and I also lost all taste so eating was about survival.
“You just never know when something might strike that is going to change your life significantly.”
Mark has now teamed up with midlands-founded charity, the Get A-Head Charitable Trust, to raise awareness of the risks of head and neck cancer.
He said: “I am very lucky and would be in a very different place if it wasn’t for charities like Get A-Head who helped fund some of the vital equipment used in the re-construction of my face.
“I’ll never be quite the same as I was but when I was diagnosed, I promised myself two things – that I wouldn’t feel sorry for myself and that some good would come out of my situation.
“The good thing is that seven years on, I’m still here to tell the tale and help raise awareness along with Get A-Head.
“My advice to others is not to ignore symptoms. If something is not right, go and seek some consultation.”
Danni Heath, director of the Get A-Head Trust, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, said: “Mark’s story is inspirational.
“It’s one of hope and survival but also one of reality for many people.
“In the UK, the number of head and neck cancer cases are increasing by 3 per cent a year and unfortunately most cases are diagnosed at either stage three or four making treatment lengthier and more invasive.
“At Get A-Head, we’ve made it our mission to improve the lives of these people by funding research, education and the provision of equipment.
“We very much hope people will take note of Mark’s valuable advice and seek medical help should they have any symptoms they might be concerned about.”
Key symptoms for head and neck cancer include persistent sore throats, painful or difficulty swallowing, neck lumps, nose bleeds, speech problems, earache and a persistent blocked nose.
