'I had a painless lump in my throat - then got incurable diagnosis'

When Adam Barnes first discovered a painless lump in his throat, he didn't think it was a cause for concern. With no other symptoms and generally feeling healthy, he wasn't alarmed.

However, as the lump grew in size, he eventually received a diagnosis that would change his life - an incurable and rare form of cancer. Despite undergoing painful surgery and treatment, 47-year-old Adam has remained remarkably stoic. Determined to set a strong example of resilience and positivity for his two sons, Rhys, nine, and Ray, six, he has faced his diagnosis head-on.

Prior to his diagnosis, Adam described his life as stress-free, active and fulfilling. As a loss assessor from Welwyn, Hertfordshire, he had been enjoying a healthy and carefree existence.

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Recalling the events leading up to his diagnosis, Adam said: "I didn't have any symptoms, but I remember driving to work and feeling this 'thing' in my throat and neck area."

The lump was movable, but completely painless. Months later, Adam noticed it had grown larger, but he still didn't suspect it could be cancer. After undergoing a biopsy, Adam sensed that the medical professional who performed the procedure knew the result before even receiving the test results.

When the results arrived, Adam received the life-altering news that he had stage 4 Medullary Thyroid Cancer. "I got called into a room and there were seven others in there," he remembered. "I didn't know who they were at the time, but they turned out to be my surgeon, oncologist, nurse, MacMillan nurse and three junior doctors."

Adam added: "I'm a very matter-of-fact type of person and just needed the basics. I remember saying 'so you're the surgeon, you're going to cut me open and remove as much as you can. And you're the oncologist and your job is to zap in radiotherapy that he misses?' To which they both agreed."

Following an eight-hour surgical procedure, Adam spent five days recovering in the hospital. "The radiotherapy started off ok, although I was apprehensive about it," he shared. "The treatment was Monday to Friday for six weeks and towards the end, I lost my appetite and eventually couldn't eat, drink or talk properly for nearly three months."

Initially diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Adam is currently undergoing another round of treatment due to the cancer spreading to his lungs. "I don't think I ever really have come to terms with the diagnosis - it is what it is," he said.

"I was told at the beginning that my chance of survival within five years was 30%. That was the hardest day. My sons were born after this happened. It's all they know, so I've always been honest with them."

Drawing inspiration from his father's three-decade-long battle with cancer, Adam is determined not to let his diagnosis define him. "My dad has had cancer for over 30 years," Adam added.

"My friends can't believe how he does it, but he does! I like to think I follow in his footsteps and my two boys will be thinking the same in years to come."

Adam embarked on his running journey in March 2024, successfully completing a half marathon by May. Now, he's gearing up to tackle the Flawed Hero Marathon, a midnight event crafted to foster inclusivity and generate inspiring narratives.

"Although I've never been a fan of long-distance running, it's always been on my bucket list of things to do," Adam confessed. "I tried the London Marathon, but like most I didn't get in. So then I was told about the Flawed Hero Marathon and it was a no-brainer.

"My condition doesn't affect my day-to-day life, but during training, my cancer spread to my pelvic bone, so I had cyberknife radiotherapy in October. I still remain positive and can confirm it has started to reduce in size. I'd always encourage other people to get yourself checked out if you're worried about any symptoms."

The Flawed Hero Marathon is scheduled for April 27, kicking off at Broadway Cinema in Letchworth Garden City. The funds raised will be donated to Pancreatic Cancer UK to support pioneering research aimed at early detection of this lethal common cancer.

You can contribute to Adam's fundraiser at