A FORMER Royal Marine found himself learning how to speak again in his forties after lifesaving surgery to remove a cancerous tumour.

Tony Haskey from Hamworthy in Poole was left unable to talk, drink or eat after the surgery.

Now, Tony is sharing his story to encourage people to support Cancer Research UK's lifesaving research on World Cancer Day.

Tony said: “My fiancée Kozy and I were planning to get married but the cancer took over all our plans. I had to have lots of tests before undergoing surgery at Poole General Hospital.

“My operation lasted 18 hours and they had to remove my jaw bone as well as tumours on my tonsils, adenoids and 70 per cent of my tongue. They reconstructed a new tongue using tissue from my arm.

“Nine months after arriving home I noticed another lump on my tongue. The doctor confirmed it was cancer again straight away and I had another 12-hour operation to remove another 20 per cent of my original tongue which they reconstructed with part of my intestine.

“In the early days as I was recovering, it was hard but I just had to get on with it and I had lots of support. I lost all of my teeth due to the radiotherapy but was lucky enough to have dental implants which thankfully gave me my smile back.

“I worked hard on my speech but initially it was difficult for people to understand me and I was embarrassed about how I sounded so I avoided conversation. Sometimes people would think I was drunk and that has been hard, especially when I’ve tried to socialise with friends and been turned away from pubs because they think I’ve had too many.

“But my speech therapist has been fantastic and taught me how to say my words slowly to pronounce them more."

Now aged 62, Tony says his experience has taught him what’s important in life and is making the most of the extra time he has been given with his wife and their dog Finley. He now enjoys cooking, socialising with friends and spending holidays in Thailand.

Tony said: “I’m so happy to be alive and I can never repay the doctors and scientists for everything they’ve done for me."

Marked on February 4, World Cancer Day is an international initiative, uniting people across the globe to take action against the disease.

For Cancer Research UK the awareness day takes on extra significance this year, as it celebrates its 20th birthday.

Unity Bands are available in Cancer Research UK shops and online at cruk.org/worldcancerday for a suggested donation of £2.