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February 2023
John Clarke had never heard of the condition Barrett's oesophagus until he was diagnosed with it. Now, he is part of a research team working to raise awareness of the condition. Here is John's story..... "Four years ago, I was diagnosed with a condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus. I had never even heard of this disease until my diagnosis, but after the initial shock wore off I soon realised that while I’m not lucky to have Barrett’s, I am extremely lucky to know I have it. Barrett’s oesophagus is often referred to as a pre-malignant condition, meaning it has the potential to develop into oesophageal cancer. It is a condition in which the flat pink lining of the oesophagus (food pipe) becomes damaged, thick, and red after long-term reflux of stomach acid. It is important for people who have been diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus to have regular check-ups to monitor for any precancerous cells. If discovered, they can be treated to prevent oesophageal cancer. My earliest memory of showing symptoms was back in my early teenage days. I was a keen sportsman at school, always very active and with good levels of fitness, but I began to notice that I struggled to take a deep breath when playing sports. Several trips a year to my local GP always came out with the same conclusion: “You’re fine. You’re too young to have breathing problems. Don’t push yourself next time.” Shortly after this the sore throats started and when I was in my late twenties, I started to lose my voice. I’m not a great singer - and even worse now – but my vocal range gradually decreased every year, until it got to the point where singing in church or chatting with a friend for 15 minutes would take a toll on my throat for the next few days. So I returned to the doctor and this time, I wanted answers. I was booked in for a scope and afterwards was diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus. The consultant explained exactly what it was and tried to reassure me not to worry, but my mind went blank. Following the meeting, it was a tearful journey home as I wondered what my biopsies were going to come back with. My daughter was just one at the time and I would break down watching her play, wondering how long I had left to play with her and see her grow. Thankfully, it turned out there were no precancerous cells. I will continue to have this scope every one to two years, which is a good thing, but there will always be that worry in the back of my mind waiting on the results. This is where the amazing work of all involved with the Breakthrough Cancer Research Oesophageal AllCaN Programme comes in. Breakthrough has created this programme that spans the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and brings together the best minds from around the country who have decades of collective experience in Oesophageal cancer and Barrett’s oesophagus. This €1million grant funding will support innovative research to improve early detection and outcomes for patients with, or at risk of, developing the disease. Imagine a day where we could tell every person with Oesophageal cancer about a personalised health and lifestyle plan to stop the disease spreading. This is what we’re working towards. I am honoured to be a PPI representative for AllCaN, working alongside such a dedicated team – including my former classmate Professor Helen Coleman – in the hopes of drastically improving oesophageal cancer survival rates in the years to come. The core vision of Breakthrough Cancer Research is 100% survival for 100% of cancers. I truly believe we will see a genius breakthrough from this North-South combination, and with the help of continued donations, we will keep working towards the next."John Clarke, Co. Down
Saturday 11th February marked International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In celebration of these amazing researchers, we share one of the latest instalments from our ‘Cancer Conversations’ series, where ovarian cancer survivor Deirdre O'Raw meets with Dr. Antoinette Perry and PhD student Asia Jordan of University College Dublin to discuss their research into the disease.
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