**Mother’s Snoring Turns Out to Be Symptom of Rare, Skull-Eroding Cancer**
A mother from Newquay, Cornwall, is urging others to never ignore persistent health changes, after discovering her new habit of snoring was an unexpected sign of a rare and life-threatening cancer eroding the base of her skull.
Claire Barbery, 51, noticed she was suffering from ongoing congestion on one side of her nose, which she initially believed could be linked to frequent COVID tests undertaken while working in a care home during the pandemic. The development of snoring, something she had never experienced before, was brushed off as trivial. “I kept waking up, breathing through my mouth instead of my nose,” she explained. Despite her discomfort, Claire initially dismissed the issue, reluctant to take up the NHS’s time with what she thought was a minor complaint.
After persistence from her symptoms and lack of relief from over-the-counter steroid nasal sprays, Claire finally chose to consult her GP in January 2023. She was quickly referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. Within weeks, a series of scans and a biopsy revealed the shocking root cause: a 5cm olfactory neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer located in the upper cavity of the nose.
The tumour had already started eroding the bone at the base of Claire’s skull by the time it was discovered. Surgeons at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital were quickly mobilised to carry out complex cranial surgery to remove the dangerous growth. Reflecting on the experience, Claire revealed she had been on the verge of cancelling her crucial hospital appointment, repeatedly doubting whether her symptoms were serious. “I almost didn’t go—I thought I was just wasting time,” she said. “Looking back, that decision could have cost me my life.”
In the wake of her ordeal, Claire has joined forces with the Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness for World Head and Neck Cancer Day, encouraging others who face similar symptoms, however small, to seek medical attention. “You know your own body best,” she cautioned. “Don’t ignore it if something feels wrong.”
The lead surgeon, Mr Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in treating tumours at the skull base, emphasised the severity of the diagnosis. “Olfactory neuroblastoma is extremely rare,” he commented. “If it hadn’t been treated, it could easily have spread to the neck, brain, and other parts of the body, making treatment almost impossible. By the time we operated, the tumour had penetrated into the base of her brain.”
Claire’s surgical procedure was a delicate one, filmed for a Channel 5 documentary, ‘Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death’. The operation not only required the removal of the tumour and affected tissue but also both of Claire’s olfactory bulbs. As a result, she has permanently lost her sense of smell. Surgeons also had to reconstruct the fragile area between her nose and brain, mindful of vital blood vessels and nerves nearby. The risks of seizure, stroke, brain injury, and even death were significant, but the complex surgery was completed without complication.
Afterwards, Claire underwent six weeks of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. She remains under close medical observation with regular follow-ups.
Despite the physical and emotional challenges, Claire is now gradually returning to work and is focussing on family time, making the most of holidays and moments with husband Gary and their daughters, Lowenna and Keizha. Her journey is a reminder of the importance of trusting one’s instincts and seeking prompt medical advice if persistent symptoms arise, no matter how trivial they may first appear.