A British man Jeff Bradford initially thought his persistent sore throat was caused by dust from gym renovations where he worked as a personal trainer. But weeks later, when symptoms didn’t improve, he decided to seek medical help, a decision that ultimately led to a life-changing diagnosis.
Doctors first treated him for tonsillitis with antibiotics, but the symptoms persisted. Months after the first signs appeared in 2016, he was referred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where further checks revealed something more serious.
“I had no fever… a different doctor gave me stronger antibiotics… he was a bit suspicious of it and took some photos,” Jeff recalled.
By June 2016, after surgery, he was diagnosed with stage three throat cancer. A week later, doctors delivered another shock, the cancer was linked to HPV16, a s3xually transmitted infection. “HPV is caught through s3xual transmission, it’s normally from oral s3x. I was totally shocked it was from that… it’s probably been in your body for over 30 years.”
Jeff, now 62 and living in Forres, said he had no idea the virus could lie dormant for decades before developing into cancer. “You just go about life… you don’t expect when you’re young ‘do that and I might get cancer when I’m 50-odd,’” he said.
He underwent 35 sessions of radiotherapy, describing the experience as extremely painful: “Radiotherapy caused really bad burns. It was like someone took a blowtorch to my neck.” Despite the ordeal, Jeff was given the all-clear in August 2016.
Now, nearly a decade later, he is sharing his story to raise awareness and encourage people to take symptoms seriously. “I’ve got no qualms talking about that… it’s a normal, s3xual activity with somebody you love… but if it’s not talked about, people may avoid treatment. It could be easily missed if you don’t push it.”
