The ‘Frankenstein’ procedure that will see Sheffield man battle tennis-ball sized tumour

After years of nervously putting off a visit, Darren’s wife Mel registered him with a local dentist, and made him an appointment last August.

It was during the Sheffield man’s consultation examination that his new dentist saw that something was amiss, and ordered the x-ray.

“There was an enormous black hole in this x-ray, we didn’t know what it meant,” reveals Darren, aged 50.

“I’d had no symptoms, and no issues with my mouth or jaw.”

His dentist immediately referred him to the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, where biopsies revealed Darren’s worst nightmare; the shadow was a tumour.

“I was told I had an ameloblastoma, an incredibly rare tumour that only affects about one in every five million people,” says Darren.

“I just remember squeezing Mel’s hand like my life depended on it.”

Mel adds: “It was one of the most scary moments of our lives.

“The surgeon immediately followed it up by saying it wasn’t cancerous – which means it won’t spread to Darren’s other organs – but that it does have to be treated aggressively, as ameloblastomas just grow and grow if left, and can cause real damage.

“There’s also a good chance they’ll grow back if a big enough margin isn’t taken, to ensure there are no residual tumour cells.”

Darren was scheduled for surgery, which he’ll have on March 20, when the tumour will be removed, along with his entire lower jaw.

Darren explains: “They’re going to cut me from ear to ear, and lift the face up to expose the jaw bone, which they’ll remove.

“They’re going to attach what looks like a titanium bike-chain from one side of my jaw to the other, and over the course of the next nine months, my new jaw will grown down along the chain.

“I’ll have two bolts on either side of my neck – like Frankenstein – which Mel will have to turn every day as the jaw continues to grow.

“Later this year, they’ll do an operation to remove a part of my hip bone which they’ll place here,” he says, rubbing his chin, “to fuse it all together.”

Darren shakes his head: “It’s honestly like something out of a sci-fi movie.”

Mel says: “We’re sitting here talking about it like it’s something you do every day, which obviously it isn’t, but focusing on the bigger picture is the only thing keeping us sane at the moment.

“My focus is just on getting Darren through the next two years, which look completely daunting.

“Psychologically it’s a very big thing for him. They’re going to remove his whole jaw, and he won’t be able to speak or eat solid foods for a very long time.

“He’s effectively going to re-grow his lower jaw over the course of about a year, and then there will be bone grafts, and dental implants to replace all his lower teeth.

“It’s going to be a very long road.”

And despite having no symptoms, Darren and Mel say the tumour’s growth is just now starting to become visible.

“When we look back at photos from a few years ago and compare them to Darren now, you can see how his face has changed,” says Mel, aged 53, who met Darren eight years ago.

“The problem is when you see somebody every single day, you don’t notice a change that is so gradual.

“These types of tumours typically grow about 1cm a year, meaning that this has been growing in Darren’s jaw for several years.

“The only way to detect ameloblastoma is with a dental x-ray, so please visit your dentists regularly, and request an annual x-ray.”

Since receiving the news around six weeks ago, Darren and Mel have turned their attention to something positive, to help them keep moving forwards.

The pair – which own Run For It: a Sheffield organisation which hosts charity and fun runs in the city – will kick off their ‘St Paddy’s Day Purgatory’ run this Saturday, at Meadowhall.

Darren says: “I needed something positive to keep my mind active, and I was really keen to raise some money and awareness for the Bone Cancer Research Trust, whose representatives are going to be joining in the fun tomorrow.

“The race – which will obviously be my last for a while – is going to be great fun.

“We’re turning the Sheffield canal green for St Paddy’s Day, and orange for BCRT, and it’s open to families and children of all ages and abilities.

“There will be a 5k and a 10k route, and our famous inflatable pub will of course be waiting at the end, so everyone can have a well-deserved pint.”

Mel adds: “We’re hoping there will be about 200 people there this weekend.

“Our events are growing in size each year; three years ago when we hosted out first Santa run, there were about 50 people, and last December we had 600, and we know lots of people are keen to show up this weekend and show their support for Darren.”

And Darren will be having his head shaved in the inflatable pub after the event, his last charity contribution before he takes a step back to focus on his operation and recovery.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without Mel, she’s been my absolute rock through it all,” says Darren, who is wearing his Amelo Warrior t-shirt.

“We’ve both been overwhelmed by people’s support and very humbled.”