A mouth cancer patient has praised NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for how they prepared him and his family for his major surgery – and how he has gone from biopsy to recovery in less than 10-weeks.
Gareth Thomson (48) discovered that he had cancer in November 2024. Gareth had noticed a small red mark on his tongue like a common mouth ulcer about two years ago. It didn’t cause any pain, but it grew over time.
Gareth explained:
“What started out as small ended up being a size that was cause for concern. It happened over time, but things changed when I was on holiday with my family in July 2024 and the growth started to bleed when I brushed my teeth. I didn’t think it was anything too serious and made a note to call my GP. Life got busy when we got home, and it wasn’t until late October when I made an appointment.
“I was surprised then at how quickly things moved. My GP gave me a cancer referral to the NHSGGC Maxillofacial Clinic and a few weeks later I had met my surgeon, Miss Wu, who carried out tests and a biopsy. It was confirmed shortly afterwards that I had tongue cancer. It was a shock, and I was completely daunted about what would need to happen next.”
Gareth was then referred to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) clinic. A service that has been praised for its approach in preparing head and neck cancer patients for major maxillofacial surgery. By hosting one-day sessions, the clinic enables open communication between patients and clinicians, significantly enhancing patient experience and recovery outcomes.
This clinic is Realistic Medicine in action, a strategy implemented by NHSGGC to promote shared decision-making with patients, making them clear of treatment benefits and risks.
Every Wednesday, the Head and Neck Eras team of healthcare professionals, including anaesthetists, surgeons, physiotherapists, Cancer Nurse Specialists (CNS), dietitians, speech and language therapists (SALT), and pre-assessment nurses, convene to meet with patients.
Dr Sarah Sullivan, NHSGGC Consultant at the clinic, said:
“The cancer itself is just one of the challenges these patients face. Their lives may also be impacted in other ways, such as disfigurement, loss of speech, and difficulty eating. They must also consider their body’s strength to recover from surgery.
“The Eras clinic takes a Realistic Medicine approach and provides opportunities for patients to learn about proposed major surgery and anaesthesia, the risks associated with this, the impact on their lifestyle, and how to prepare their bodies for surgery. Simple lifestyle changes, such as breathing exercises, quitting smoking, gentle exercise, and dietary adjustments, can significantly improve recovery. Even a week can make a difference.
“Patients are encouraged to share what is important to their lifestyle and loved ones. This empowers them to actively participate in their treatment decisions, the benefits and risks of surgery, and being aware of the alternatives, which may be not to go ahead with surgery.”
Gareth explained the pre-surgical support he received at the clinic. He said:
“I wasn’t in any pain prior to the surgery but the mental impact was heavy. I’ve never been unwell or had surgery before so the thought of being put to sleep was terrifying. I had nerves that I wouldn’t wake up. The Eras clinic helped me as I was able to share this fear with anaesthetist, Dr Sarah Sullivan. She provided me with the risks and chatted me through step by step what would happen.
“At the clinic, I also met with dieticians to talk about what changes I could make to benefit my recovery and with occupational health to understand that they were there for me if I needed them post-surgery.
“My wife got to ask questions too and it was good for her to be involved in the process. The level of empathy and understanding from every person we spoke to at each point in my care was outstanding. We felt in safe hands.”
On the 30th of December, Gareth had resection of a tongue tumour which included tracheostomy and neck dissection. A radial forearm flap was then used by surgeons for reconstruction. Gareth was home 10 days later, is now in recovery and feels good.
“My message to others is that if they’re unsure about anything, get checked right away. I know that I should have gone to the GP sooner, and I am grateful to the medical teams for acting quickly.
“I cannot praise the staff enough for how they have treated me in this process. These positive stories about the NHS need to be shared more as they really are amazing. My standard of care has been excellent.”
