Co Tyrone man on ‘invasive’ neck cancer surgery due to treatment ‘postcode lottery’

Around 45,000 people with cancer in Northern Ireland are struggling to get the right care due to where they live

A man from Co Tyrone has opened up on his “invasive” cancer surgery due to treatment “postcode lottery.”

Macmillan Cancer Support is warning almost 1.4 million people with cancer across the UK (40%) are being failed by a “cancer postcode lottery”, including 45,000 people with cancer in Northern Ireland. This means people struggle to get the treatment and care that’s right for them, simply because of where they live.

Shaun Doherty, 38, from Strabane underwent traditional and invasive surgery for head and neck cancer in 2025. Macmillan’s new survery reveals 54% of people with head and neck cancer have been affected by variations in cancer treatment and care, significantly higher than the average for people with cancer.

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The charity says that while newer treatments such as robotic surgery might not be the right option for everyone, they should be made available for those who would benefit.

Speaking about his surgery and the impact it has had on his life, Shaun said: “After discussing my treatment, a potential 18-hour surgery involving removing part of my jaw and rebuilding it using bone from my leg, I realised how serious it was and was grateful for the experience and skill of the team I was under.

“I knew the potential for complications, but I decided to go ahead with the operation. The operation involved a surgeon opening my neck and removing my original jaw and lymph nodes, while another surgeon removed the fibula from my left leg to aid in the reconstruction of the jaw that had been removed, along with the insertion of a titanium plate.

“This treatment was the only option available to me, and I’d never even heard of robotic surgery until recently. The experience has had a big impact on my life.

“The structure of my jaw has changed, so my ability to chew will never be the same. Additionally, the nerves in that area have been removed, so something as simple as a kiss with your partner is different now. We jokingly call them 50% kisses as I only feel on my top lip, but I am so grateful to be here. 50% kisses beat no kisses any day of the week.”

Macmillan said inconsistent cancer care is leaving some people with cancer with fewer treatment options, and very little choice but to travel long distances for the treatment they need. Many face increased costs, stress, anxiety and exhaustion as a result.

At its most extreme, the UK’s ‘cancer postcode lottery’ could be putting an estimated 100,000 lives at risk, with the charity’s latest survey showing some people with cancer (3%) have had to turn down critical cancer tests and treatment simply because they lived too far away.

Macmillan is now calling for urgent action from governments and partners across the UK who are involved in delivering cancer care to help tackle widespread variation in cancer diagnosis and treatment – to make sure every person with a cancer diagnosis can get the best possible care, no matter where they live.

Dr Anthony Cunliffe, Macmillan’s Lead Medical Adviser, said: “As a GP, the fact that where you live can have such a huge impact on your cancer experience really does worry me. But the reality is that for too many people with cancer it has begun to feel like a game of chance – a ‘flip of a coin’ and a need to be ‘in the right place, at the right time’ – when it comes to getting the treatment and care they need.

“We need to see urgent action taken to make cancer care fair. Everyone with cancer should get the best possible care the UK has to offer. Everyone should get the treatment that is right for them. No-one should get left behind simply because of where they live.

“At Macmillan, we are trying to bring UK decision-makers, people with cancer and local communities together to make sure that well-established cancer treatments and tests are made equally available to everyone.”

For information, support or just someone to talk to, call Macmillan Cancer Support on 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk/whateveryouneed.

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