Smoker who lost half his TONGUE and all his teeth to mouth cancer STILL puffs on five fags a day
James Upfield, 46, was diagnosed with stage four mouth and throat cancer and "died" twice during treatment - once in surgery when his lungs collapsed
A SMOKER who lost half his tongue and all his teeth to cancer has admitted he still puffs his way through five ciggies a day.
James Upfield was diagnosed with stage four mouth and throat cancer, and "died" twice during surgery - once when his lungs collapsed.
Yet, the 46-year-old claims he can't stub out his deadly habit.
He can no longer produce saliva, and is forced to liquidise his food.
The former Royal Pioneer Corps soldier also developed motor neurone disease – a rare condition that progressively damages part of the nervous system – following radiotherapy.
His face has been misshapen by surgery to cut out his tumour, he has lost all his teeth due to radiation and he has trouble speaking.
But James, who has been smoking since he was 13 and used to puff his way through between 10 and 20 cigarettes a day, claims to be too addicted to ditch his habit.
Although he has tried everything from nicotine patches to going cold turkey many times, he has never managed to completely stop smoking.
MOST READ IN HEALTH
Diagnosed with combined mouth and throat cancer, in 2013, he said: “I wish I’d never started.
"I want to encourage people not to start.
"Looking back, if I’d known this would happen to me, I wouldn’t have.
“I’m not proud I’m still a smoker.”
Experts at Cancer Research UK advise that doctors encourage patients to give up smoking before starting treatment but also to give up after treatment to reduce the risk of cancer coming back.
Both tobacco and alcohol are known carcinogens – meaning they contain chemicals that can damage the DNA cells and lead to cancer.
And the NHS cites them as the two leading causes of mouth cancer in the UK.
James, who admits people think he's a fool for not quitting, first went to see his GP after suffering repeated bouts of burning when he swallowed.
Then 42, the GP suggested it was tonsillitis but, following a routine dental appointment, he was immediately referred to Northampton General Hospital, where a tongue swab was taken.
I want to encourage people not to start. Looking back, if I’d known this would happen to me, I wouldn’t have. I’m not proud I’m still a smoker
James Upfield
After receiving abnormal results, he was sent for biopsies and MRI scans, before the devastating news was broken in February 2013.
“It was cancer,” James said.
“The cancer was stage four – the worst it can be.
"If there was stage five, that would’ve been that.”
Tests indicated the cancer had spread to James’s lymph nodes and, in July 2013, surgeons removed half his tongue.
But James stopped breathing during the operation and had to be resuscitated.
“I died,” he said.
“Of course, I didn’t know. I was unconscious.
"There was no-one saying, 'Go to the light, James'.”
Afterwards, while recovering in hospital, his lungs collapsed and started filling with blood – his second brush with death.
“It felt like I was drowning,” he recalled.
“But once again, thanks to the doctors and nurses, I was brought round.”
Next, James had months of targeted chemotherapy, to eradicate all traces of the tumour, before going on to have six weeks of radiotherapy.
Unfortunately, the radiotherapy led to him developing motor neurone disease – the same condition as brilliant physicist Stephen Hawking.
Links between high levels of radiation and the muscle-wasting illness have been explored for decades.
James, who is medically retired, added: “I was then in hospital for a long time.
"I underwent surgery to reconstruct my mouth and tongue, although I am due more.”
James has now been cancer-free for three years, but must still attend regular hospital appointments for the next two years.
In the meantime he is training for the London Marathon, and
James said: “I’m barmy and that barminess has helped me.
“Three years ago I was 6.5 stone, but I have worked to get my fitness back and I'm 12 stone again.”
Now James is determined not to give in and to keep challenging himself.
He said: “I can either carry on with my life and be an active person, or I can just sit and slump at home – I have chosen to keep going and challenge myself.
“I know that I am a timebomb in a sense, that anything could happen, but I stay positive.
"There's more to life than feeling sorry for myself and having all these things happen to me in such a short space of time has made me a better person.
"For the first time in my life I actually take the time to listen to other people.
“I’ve had so much support from Scope over the last few years. I wouldn’t be here without them and everything they have done for me.”
James will be cheered on at The London Marathon by around 30 soldiers from his former regiment.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368