A young acting graduate from North Yorkshire has made a remarkable return to the stage following gruelling treatment for tongue cancer, which included surgeons reconstructing her tongue using skin from her arm – complete with a tattoo.
From Ulcer to Diagnosis: A Shocking Journey
Harriet Trewhitt, aged 21 and from Northallerton, first noticed an ulcer on her tongue in December 2024. Initially, doctors believed the painful sore was a slow-healing injury, potentially caused by biting her tongue during an epileptic seizure. However, after multiple visits and no improvement, a biopsy was taken.
The results delivered devastating news in May: Harriet had stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a form of mouth cancer. "I couldn't really believe what was happening," Harriet recalled. "Things suddenly looked much more serious." Determined to finish her studies at London's LMA Drama School, she pleaded with doctors for a brief delay. She completed her final day on a Thursday and underwent major surgery the following Tuesday, May 27.
Life-Saving Surgery and a Unique Reconstruction
The complex six-hour operation at University College London Hospital involved removing half of Harriet's tongue. Surgeons then performed a intricate reconstruction, using skin and blood vessels from her left forearm. In an unusual twist, a semi-colon tattoo that was on her forearm was relocated inside her newly constructed mouth during the procedure.
The recovery was fraught with challenges. Just two days later, emergency surgery was needed to repair compromised blood vessels and damaged lymph nodes near her collarbone. Harriet had to relearn how to talk and swallow, relying on a feeding tube initially. "It was so much to take in," she said.
Pioneering Proton Beam Therapy and Recovery
Although surgery removed all cancerous tissue, the cancer was more aggressive than first thought. This meant Harriet required a follow-up course of advanced proton beam therapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester. This precise form of radiotherapy, which uses protons instead of X-rays, helps spare healthy cells and reduce side effects.
Cancer Research UK funded the world's first hospital-based proton beam therapy machine in 1989 and supported early clinical trials. Harriet underwent treatment five days a week from July 7 until August 15, battling painful side effects and sickness. The support of her licensed assistance dog, Flo, and visits from family were crucial during this difficult time.
Now back home in Northallerton, Harriet continues her recovery. She recently returned to the stage in a local production of "Anything Goes" and plans to start a Masters in Drama Therapy in 2026, though she has had to adjust to changes in her speech and confidence. "The hardest part for me has been adjusting to the impact it has had on my acting," she admitted.
A Call to Fund Future Breakthroughs
Harriet is now championing Cancer Research UK's fundraising drive, crediting decades of research for the treatments that saved her life. With cancer cases rising – projections indicate one UK person will be diagnosed every two minutes by 2040 – she is urging the public to donate monthly.
"I understand this more than most, as decades of research helped develop the treatment I received," Harriet stated. "Advances like this wouldn't be possible without vital funds." Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson for Yorkshire, emphasised the urgency: "More support right now could fuel faster progress than ever before and help more people like Harriet live longer, better lives."
