I noticed a lump in my throat while swallowing — it was cancer

Business manager Mike Freeney enjoyed ultra running in his free time, but difficulty eating and keeping up with other runners led him to visit his GP and the start of tests, which revealed throat cancer

Mike Freeney, Castleconnell, Co Limerick, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2022. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Almost 800 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed in Ireland each year, according to the National Cancer Registry 2024 Report. They include cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, salivary glands, nasal cavity, sinuses, and middle ear.

Because more than two-thirds of patients are diagnosed with late-stage head and neck cancer, Ireland’s five-year survival rate is just 48%.