A dad from Salford who has recently been treated for oesophageal cancer is urging other men to learn the warning signs and visit their GP if something doesn’t feel right.
Gary Carney, 54, from Walkden, first realised something was wrong when he began having difficulty swallowing food.
He said: “My wife was away for a few days, so I got a takeaway. Afterwards, I found myself rubbing my chest to try and help the food go down. I thought it was just the takeaway not agreeing with me.
“But then it happened again over the weekend. When my wife, Nuala, got back, I told her about it and she encouraged me to contact my GP.”
Gary had previously been diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus in his 20s — a condition where the lining of the food pipe changes due to abnormal cell growth. This meant he already took medication to manage reflux and had a slightly higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer than the general population.
His GP referred him on a cancer referral pathway for blood tests and an endoscopy — a small camera test used to examine the inside of the food pipe — at Salford Royal Hospital. This marked the beginning of a series of further investigations.
He said: “After that first appointment with my GP, I had an appointment somewhere every week while they gathered the evidence to work out what was wrong.
“I didn’t really have time to stop and process everything. I just coped by moving from one appointment to the next. I knew I had to do that to get it sorted.”
Gary underwent a CT scan, a PET scan, a colonoscopy (a camera test to look at the bowel), and a laparoscopy (keyhole surgery to examine the stomach). Once all the results were reviewed, he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and a treatment plan was put in place.
He received chemotherapy at The Christie Hospital from May to August, followed by surgery led by surgeon Sophie Doran to remove the tumour at Salford Royal in September.
Eight months on, Gary is feeling much better, though he is still using a feeding tube to help him regain weight. He has also been sharing regular TikTok videos to demystify his cancer journey and support others going through similar experiences. He has also joined the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance’s Cancer Voices Community as a patient representative.
Gary is planning to return to his role as a compliance manager for apprenticeships at the University of Salford in September.
He said: “The care I’ve had at both The Christie and Salford Royal has been fantastic. The pain relief was amazing — I actually felt more pain after I broke my shin bone playing football than I did after my cancer surgery.
“It’s really important to see your GP if something isn’t usual for you, just to get it checked out. Most of the time it won’t be cancer, but it’s better to know. If it is cancer, you want to start treatment as soon as possible.”
Professor Javed Sultan, a specialist in oesophageal (gullet) cancer at the NHS Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, added: “I want to thank Gary for sharing his story during Men’s Health Week.
“If you have difficulty swallowing food, or if it feels like food is getting stuck when you eat, you should get this checked by your GP, just as Gary did.
“We also advise people — especially those aged 55 or older — to see their GP if they have heartburn or indigestion lasting three weeks or more.
“While some people rely on over-the-counter medicines for these symptoms, if you find yourself repeatedly needing them, it’s important to consult your doctor to rule out anything more serious. Most of the time it won’t be cancer, but if it is, early diagnosis is key to starting treatment as soon as possible.”
