‘LESSON FOR EVERYONE’
I spotted my teeth looked unusual while watching myself on TV – it saved my life
Red flags signs you may spot in your mouth that you should get seen to by a GP or dentist
A SINGER spotted something unusual in his teeth while watching back a TV appearance - and says it saved his life.
Peter Young, 67, was asked to pay tribute to the Bat Out of Hell singer Meat Loaf and only noticed a gap in his teeth when he watched the BBC interview.
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He went to the dentist a few months later, having decided to get teeth implants to fix the problem.
Peter was shocked to be told the gap was caused by stage four mouth cancer.
The disease can cause symptoms like ulcers in the mouth that don't heal, but it can also make teeth wobbly and loose.
Peter was told he may never sing again when he was diagnosed in December 2022.
Read more on mouth cancer
But now cancer-free, he has released a new song to commemorate the third anniversary of Meat Loaf's death, entitled 'January 20th'.
Peter, of Blackpool, Lancs., says the legendary rocker saved his life.
said: "Had Meat Loaf not died, I don't think I'd be here any more.
"I wouldn't have done the interview, and I wouldn't have known. The likelihood is, I would have been dead.
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"I wouldn't have checked, I never went to the dentist often enough. It's a bit of a lesson for everyone, that.
"I'd been doing a Meat Loaf tribute for 15 to 16 years then, and I was asked to do an interview with the BBC, which I did.
Timeline of how teeth change due to ageing
"I saw the video later on the news, and because I was getting old I'd lost a few teeth over the years, and there was a gap at the bottom of my mouth, I didn't think anyone could see it.
"The guy who diagnosed me suggested I wouldn't be able to sing again. That kind of broke me a bit, that.
"I've been doing it for 30 years, it was my living. I was about to retire, but I would never retire from singing.
"I had the operation and I was off for about 12 months, I had no teeth for seven or eight months, they had to fit implants, because they had to remove all the teeth in the mouth for the operation."
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The singer, who has toured his act around the world, first noticed something was wrong after he was invited on to the BBC to discuss the death Meat Loaf - real name Marvin Lee Aday - in January 2022.
Seven months later, Peter decided he wanted to get implants to fix the problem, having no idea that something was seriously wrong.
He said: "I decided to go to a dentist in Cyprus whilst I was working there, because it's a lot cheaper than it is in this country.
"As it was, the girl who gave me the examination said I had an infection, so I had to go back to my dentist here in Blackpool."
Symptoms of mouth cancer
Symptoms of mouth cancer can can affect any part of your mouth including the gums, tongue, inside the cheeks, or lips.
They may include:
- A mouth ulcer in your mouth that lasts more than three weeks
- A red or white patch inside your mouth
- A lump inside your mouth or on your lip
- Pain inside your mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty speaking or a croaky voice
- A lump in your neck or throat
- Losing weight without trying
- Loose teeth or dentures that don't fit well
These symptoms are very common and can be caused by other conditions - having them doesn't definitely mean you have mouth cancer, but it's important to get checked by a GP or dentist.
If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat.
Smoking or drinking large amounts can heighten your risk of developing the disease.
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After returning home, Peter was diagnosed with stage four cancer in his mouth and underwent a gruelling 11-hour operation to remove the cancer, with surgeons using skin from his wrist to patch up his mouth.
He was left with just two natural teeth at the back of his mouth for seven months following the operation, which has left him cancer free.
The rest of his teeth have now been replaced with implants.
Now, Peter is back singing again, and he has released a new song to commemorate the third anniversary of Meat Loaf's death, entitled 'January 20th'.
In July, he plans on doing a show in Blackpool complete with a 30-piece orchestra.
He added: "I need to pay my bills that have mounted up during lockdown and Covid and everything else.
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"I wasn't forced to carry on. I'll sing 'til I drop, whilst I can still do it I'm gonna still do it.
"Meat Loaf's not the easiest to do, but it seems to be my niche."
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