I’m a speech and language therapist — I was diagnosed with tongue cancer at 24

Orlaith Maher was diagnosed with tongue cancer at 24. The shocking news was all the more troubling given that she works as a speech and language therapist

Orlaith Maher, who has been treated for tongue cancer. Picture Brendan Gleeson

Every year in Ireland, over 700 cases of mouth, head, and neck cancers are diagnosed. Classically, this type of cancer affects men and older people with risk factors like smoking and drinking alcohol.

In the past 10 years though, there has been an increase in the number of non-smoking younger people, especially women, being diagnosed, according to the Marie Keating Foundation.