Lung cancer diagnosis after toothache

A woman with toothache learns she has a serious cancer, exposing gaps in diagnosis and access to advanced therapies.

Toothache Reveals Lung Cancer Diagnosis in the UK

Two private dentists told Keshia Liburd that her teeth were fine as the toothache persisted. The pain grew until she went to A&E, where an X-ray eventually led to a cancer diagnosis after 16 days. Doctors identified a rare ALK positive form of stage 3 lung cancer, with the disease later advancing to stage 4 and spreading to the lungs, liver and brain. She has undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, but the cancer returned in 2024. Her family started a GoFundMe to raise forty thousand pounds for advanced treatments such as trans arterial chemoembolisation and a dendritic cell therapy, while NHS care options appear limited.

Lung cancer often shows no early signs, and when symptoms do appear they can resemble common illnesses. The case underscores how referrals and access to imaging can affect timelines and outcomes. It also highlights the reality that high cost therapies can outpace what public health systems can fund, pushing families toward crowdfunding.

The episode exposes a web of risks that extend beyond one patient. Non specific symptoms like tooth pain can mask a life threatening illness, and delays in imaging can shift prognosis. The story also raises questions about how cross specialty care, including dentistry and oncology, intersect in the hunt for answers. It points to a broader issue in health care: expensive targeted treatments exist, but access depends on funding and policy choices. Crowdfunding highlights both community support and systemic gaps that publicly funded systems must address.

Highlights

The case reminds readers that vigilance and timely care matter for every symptom.