A woman from Poole is encouraging others to seek help early after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer following months of difficulty swallowing.
Beth Johnston, 38, from Kinson, visited her GP at The Village Surgery in Poole last April after food began getting stuck when she ate and pain after meals became more frequent. She was referred for an endoscopy and on May 12, 2025, was told she had stage three adenocarcinoma where the oesophagus meets the stomach.
Around 9,000 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year in the UK. Beth said her oncologist told her that without the referral, the outcome could have been very different.
She underwent four rounds of chemotherapy followed by major surgery at Poole and Bournemouth hospitals to remove part of her oesophagus and surrounding lymph glands. Further treatment in December was halted after an allergic reaction.
During her treatment, Beth received a non repayable grant from the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation, which helped her install a shower at home. She said the support brought huge relief at a difficult time and she hopes to return to work soon.
Share us with your friends on social media, and have a listen to Bournemouth One online and on DAB for all your local news, traffic, jobs, weather, coastal info and more.
Register below for free regular updates via email.