Diagnosed With Mouth Cancer, This Man Initially Thought Sariawan In His Tongue

Oral Cancer Illustration (Freepik/Grandpa's Cupbook)

JAKARTA - A man from Stafford, England named Barter and Durant caught the attention of netizens because he thought that the sariawan on the right side of his tongue was something he was not worried about.

This 26-year-old man often experiences it, so he doesn't think about anything about the lump. He decided to treat the lump himself when he first saw it.

"The drop was like a gray patch, whiteness, the size of a coin one cent. I didn't think about it after that. Most of it just felt like it wasn't there," said Barter Dan Durant, quoted from the Daily Mail page.

One day, when he sneezing and accidentally biting him, the lump was inflamed and he went to the doctor.

He was finally diagnosed with scuamosa cell carcinoma, a type of cancer that affects the skin and cells, such as the skin covering the interior of the mouth.

During the 11-hour operation, doctors cut two tumors, raised 50 percent of their tongue and reconstructed them using the skin from their left arm.

They also dissected their necks to remove cancer lymph nodes and he is currently awaiting results from a biopsy that will confirm whether he needs further treatment.

"The nurse said 'You're lucky you're biting your brain'. She's also lost a lot of weight and often has a sore throat, but doesn't realize that's something to worry about," he explained.

But after biting him, he realized it wasn't cured. Then, the man went to meet his doctor who suspected it was a symptom of oral cancer and directed him to Royal Stoke University Hospital, England. He was finally diagnosed with oral cancer which was confirmed on August 21, 2024.

The scuamosa cell carcinoma is the most common type of oral cancer, covering nearly 90 percent of cases. Squamosa cells are found in tissues that form the skin's surface, such as in the mouth and in the arms and legs.

Sariawan who does not recover within three weeks can be a sign of oral cancer. Swelling, lumps, red or white spots, and loose teeth, sore throats or swallowing difficulties are also signs of sariawan.

On September 12, 2024, he underwent surgery for 11.5 hours to remove the tumor. Initially the doctor hoped to only lift part of his tongue, but after finding the second tumor, they were forced to remove half of it. Cancer lymph cancer was also removed from his neck for biopsy to ensure cancer had not spread.

"They took the skin from my lower arm for my tongue. Then the skin from my stomach to replace the skin on my arm. They also used arteries from the lower arm and put it in my tongue so there was blood flow." he said.