Dog Sniffs Out Cancer Dad’s Face And He Had Half Of His Face Rebuilt After

Mark Allen’s journey is a testament to the incredible bond between humans and their pets, and the life-saving potential this bond can hold. Mark, a 65-year-old consultant and CEO from Warwick, England, was given a dire prognosis after an aggressive tumor spread across the right side of his face. The situation was so severe that doctors informed him he had only weeks to live if he did not undergo immediate surgery. Remarkably, it was Mark’s mixed-breed collie, Jessie, who first alerted him to the issue, exhibiting strange and unusually affectionate behavior long before the tumor was diagnosed.

For nearly a year, Mark had been struggling with what he believed to be a benign polyp, which made breathing through his right nostril difficult. Although he noticed Jessie’s unusual behavior—nudging, pawing, and staying close to him—Mark initially dismissed it as nothing more than his dog’s affection. “At the time, Jessie was acting oddly, clinging around my legs and behaving in a closeness she had not previously done,” Mark recalled. It wasn’t until he finally sought medical advice that the true reason for Jessie’s concern became horrifyingly clear.

“When I finally went to see the doctor and got the results, I think I’d already worked out it was going to be cancer because of Jessie’s behavior,” Mark shared. Unfortunately, by this point, the cancer had reached stage 4, requiring extensive and severe treatment. “Had I gone to the doctors earlier, I’m sure the treatment would not have been as severe as it turned out to be,” he reflected, now acutely aware of the consequences of delaying medical consultation.

The road to recovery for Mark was daunting. He underwent a grueling 10-hour surgery where surgeons removed the tumor along with half of his face. The operation was nothing short of extraordinary, involving a massive facial reconstruction. Surgeons replaced his cheekbone with a bone from his pelvis, removed his right eye socket, and used titanium plates to reconstruct his jaw. The procedure also involved rebuilding the roof of his mouth and throat using tissue from his abdomen, as well as removing the lymph nodes and saliva glands on the right side of his neck to prevent the cancer from spreading further.

Despite the successful removal of the tumor, Mark still faced intensive radiotherapy, which he described as “quite nasty.” The entire experience was a stark reminder of how suddenly life can change. “You just never know when something might strike that is going to change your life significantly,” he said.

In the aftermath of his ordeal, Mark has found a new mission: raising awareness about head and neck cancer. He has partnered with the UK-based Get A-Head Charitable Trust, an organization dedicated to combating these types of cancers. “I am very lucky and would be in a very different place if it wasn’t for charities like Get A-Head who helped fund some of the vital equipment used in the reconstruction of my face,” Mark said, expressing his gratitude. He also made a personal vow during his diagnosis to not feel sorry for himself and to ensure that some good would come out of his situation.

“The good thing is, I’m still here to tell the tale and help raise awareness along with Get A-Head. My advice to others is not to ignore symptoms. If something is not right, go and seek some consultation,” Mark urged. His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection and the critical role of medical consultation.

Danni Heath, director of the Get A-Head Trust, emphasized the need for public awareness, noting that most cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages, making treatment more invasive and lengthy. “We very much hope people will take note of Mark’s valuable advice and seek medical help should they have any symptoms they might be concerned about,” she said. Key symptoms to watch for include persistent sore throats, difficulty swallowing, neck lumps, nosebleeds, speech problems, earache, and a continuously blocked nose.

Mark’s story, driven by the extraordinary instincts of his dog Jessie, is not just a tale of survival, but a rallying call to pay attention to our bodies and seek help when something feels off.