Hello to everybody and thank you for reading my page.

**IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME I WILL HAPPILY PROVIDE ANY PROOF FOR YOU, OF MY CONDITION, SHOULD YOU WISH TO SEE THIS-THIS WILL BE NO PROBLEM AT ALL!**

In October 2002 I was diagnosed with Oral Cancer in the floor of my mouth. The cancer was so aggressive that I was admitted to hospital a week before Christmas to have the floor of my mouth removed, where the tumour was. It was very unusual for someone of my age to have this cancer-I had only just turned 35 and this form of tumour occurs more in people in their mid 50's and upwards.

The operation I had to save my life was major, and involved reconstructing the inside of my mouth using parts of my foream, and reconnecting nerves and my tongue. Although being very grateful to the surgeon for this life-saving operation, he did not tell me about the massive psychological impact it would have on my whole life-I didn't recognise the person in the mirror anymore. My face had changed, meaning for the last 5 years I have not been able to smile or laugh properly, without looking weird. I was not told that the swelling would not completely go down, making me look bloated all the time. And worse of all-my tongue was sewn too far back in my mouth-meaning I could never do what every other person would take for granted-kiss again.

I changed from a confident and bubbly individual into someone who is reclusive and frightened of social contact with anyone who I am not familiar with, for fear of being stared or pointed at. I have been too terrified of thinking about being close to someone physically ever again because of not being able to kiss them how I would want to.

The surgeon I have now is going to try and attempt to free my tongue, to encourage abit more movement-however he has said this will not make much difference. The other operations I want I have asked about over the past 5 years and have not got anywhere-I personally think it's because the National Health service here in the UK is overstretched and under funded. All I want is corrective surgery to my face to slim it down to how it used to be, and for an operation if there is one to correct my smile as much as possible-I cannot tell you in words how it makes me feel inside but it is an aching pain-to be able to smile and laugh again, without constantly covering my mouth and lowering my head is my dream. To be able to walk into a crowded place and hold my head up, knowing that I look relatively normal and have my confidence back. And to be able to go back to work is a major longing of mine also.

I have seen a private plastic surgeon and I am looking at a sum of at least £10,000 to have these operations. Some people may think it is just vanity and beauty is only skin deep-to those people I say. Imagine not recognising yourself anymore, and not being able to do the simplest of things facially-of having those things taken away. And it's a sad world we live in-because people DO judge you on your appearance-It's Human Nature. I hope someone can help me, no matter how small the contribution. Many Thanks. 

Mr Antony P Graham

4 Salters Close, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 3PT. UK