Overview

• On World Head and Neck Cancer Day on July 27, Claire Barbery joined forces with the Get A-Head Charitable Trust to launch a national awareness campaign.
• She first noticed a one-sided nasal blockage and new snoring habit in late 2022 but almost skipped her initial appointment for fear of wasting NHS resources.
• Scans and a biopsy in January 2023 revealed a 5cm olfactory neuroblastoma eroding the base of her skull, prompting a referral to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
• Consultant Shahz Ahmed performed a high-risk skull-base operation to remove the tumour and olfactory bulbs, resulting in permanent loss of her sense of smell.
• After six weeks of chemoradiotherapy, Claire remains under regular follow-up and is urging others to seek early evaluation for persistent or unusual nasal symptoms.