Surrey Woman’s Heartbreaking Cancer Journey How Minor Symptoms Led to Oesophageal Cancer Diagnosis

Cheryle Brandon, 51, from Surrey, has shared her journey after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer—a deadly and often overlooked disease. Her story began in April 2022 with seemingly minor symptoms: indigestion and difficulty swallowing. Initially, a course of anti-acid medication helped, but over time, the signs grew more concerning.

“The course actually did work,” Cheryle said. “So it wasn’t until about six or seven months later that I started feeling a little tightness in my throat. It didn’t feel like anything too serious, more like I had swallowed too much or that feeling you get when you eat too quickly”, reported the Daily Mail.

As her ability to swallow worsened, Cheryle rationalized the symptoms. “I noticed that when I had steak, I would choke on it,” she recalled. “Eventually, I started to choke on food once a week. So, I cut out meat.” Even when choking became more frequent, she attributed it to other factors, such as a chest infection.

Eventually, Cheryle underwent an endoscopy, which revealed a 6cm inoperable tumor near her windpipe. A biopsy confirmed it was oesophageal cancer. “I’d never heard of esophagus cancer,” she said. “Stereotypically, it is a man’s disease and affects those 65 and above. And it is one of the most difficult cancers to treat.”

Oesophageal cancer is among the six deadliest cancers, with only 42% of patients surviving one-year post-diagnosis. Alarmingly, only 15% of adult patients survive beyond five years. Cheryle named her tumor “Geraldine,” making her battle feel more personal. “They had concerns Geraldine had infiltrated my windpipe. As she was too close to my heart, they couldn’t operate. They were saying months, do you know what I mean?”

Her journey involved brutal chemotherapy starting in February 2023, described as her “one chance” to fight the disease. “I was to prepare for the worst,” Cheryle said. “We had the whole DNR conversation, and I was downloading my funeral songs. But not once did I say, ‘Why me?’ I was very stoic about it.”

The treatment took a severe toll, leaving her exhausted, unable to walk, and reliant on a feeding tube. She dropped from a size 16 to a size 6. Yet, Cheryle has faced every challenge with resilience. Her hope is to raise awareness about oesophageal cancer, urging others not to ignore their symptoms and seek help early.