A father-of-two diagnosed with throat cancer was flabbergasted when doctors told him it was likely caused by oral sex.
Jeff Bradford was 'totally shocked' after being informed that the source of his illness could probably be traced back to a lover from decades ago.
"I've had a few partners before I met my wife, but you just go about life like everyone else," he said. "You don't expect when you're young, 'Do that and I might get cancer when I'm 50-odd'."
Jeff, who was a corporal in the Royal Air Force for 14 years, explained that he first started experiencing symptoms back in March 2016.
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He had been renovating his gym when he was struck down with a sore throat - which he suspected might have been caused by the dust he had encountered, even though he had been wearing a protective mask.
The dad tried out his usual remedies for this ailment, only to find that his sore throat still hadn't shifted two weeks later.
The 62-year-old then went to his GP, who apparently claimed it was 'classic tonsillitis' and handed him antibiotics. Another doctor then prescribed him some stronger medication and referred him to the hospital.
After a specialist then spotted a 'sinister' looking mass at the back of his throat, Jeff was booked in for a biopsy.
"I couldn't see anything but I could feel something touching the back of my tongue, it was making me gag," he said. "It was like something was tickling the back of my tongue."
A surgeon then informed him that the mass had doubled in size since his last scan and suggested they remove the thumb-sized tumour there and then.
'It's probably been in your body for over 30 years'
After a gruelling four-hour operation, it was removed and tests then revealed it was stage-three throat cancer. Jeff was later informed that his type of cancer had been triggered by HPV16.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name given to a group of viruses that affect the skin and moist membranes that line the body, such as those in the cervix (neck of the womb), anus, mouth and throat. It's often spread during sex, including oral sex.
It is known to cause changes in the cells of the cervix, which can lead to cervical cancer. It's thought the virus may have a similar effect on the cells of the throat, but more research is needed.
'It's just bad luck'
Jeff - from Forres, Moray, Scotland - explained that doctors suggested he might have picked up the virus decades earlier, before he met his wife, Heidi Bradford.
In the wake of his diagnosis, he underwent chemotherapy as well as 35 gruelling rounds of radiation therapy.
Now, 10 years after being declared cancer-free, the dad is urging anyone with symptoms that don't clear up within two weeks to seek medical help and 'keep pushing' if it doesn't clear up.
Reflecting on his diagnosis, Jeff said: "When they mentioned HPV, I didn't know what that was. HPV is caught through sexual transmission, it's normally from oral sex.
"I was totally shocked it was from that. When you try to explain it to people as well they're like 'what, really?' He said 'it's probably been in your body for over 30 years', that's how long it can stay dormant for.
"He said the sore throat I got could have just opened it up to getting a foothold, it's just bad luck.
"I've had a few partners before I met my wife, but you just go about life like everyone else. You don't expect when you're young 'do that and I might get cancer when I'm 50-odd'."
'It could be easily missed if you don't push it'
Now Jeff is urging people to get anything unusual checked out.
Jeff said: "I think it's important to share my story, I've got no qualms talking about that at all.
"Everybody does it, don't they? It's a normal, sexual activity with somebody you love - it's an intimate thing that couples do.
"I would never say to anyone 'give up oral sex' it's just a natural thing to do but it might put people off that.
"I think if it's not talked about quite candidly it'll get brushed under the carpet and if people are embarrassed to talk about it they may avoid treatment.
"If someone has a persistent sore throat my advice is to get it checked out, it could be easily missed if you don't push it."
Oral sex was attributed by Hollywood star Michael Douglas' as the cause of his stage-four throat cancer diagnosis in 2010.
He told the Guardian he could 'remember the look' on the doctor's face when a 'walnut-size tumour' was found at the base of his tongue.
Thankfully, after months of radiation and chemotherapy, the 68-year-old was declared tumour free.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, UK News, Cancer
Olivia Burke