From Toothache to Life-Changing Diagnosis
When 38-year-old mum Keshia Liburd from Almondbury, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, felt a sharp pain in her tooth in 2023, she thought the solution would be a simple filling. She visited her dentist expecting confirmation of a cavity — but the dentist told her there was nothing wrong.
A second dentist said the same. With no visible dental damage, she left with unanswered questions.
Months later, in September, Keshia developed chest pain. Concerned, she called 999 and was rushed to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. There, an X-ray revealed something she never expected — ALK-positive lung cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease often found in younger, non-smoking individuals.
“I didn’t even have a cough,” Keshia said. “No breathing problems — just a toothache. Within weeks, I was told I had incurable cancer.”
Why This Story Matters
Keshia’s journey isn’t just heartbreaking — it’s a powerful reminder of how early signs of ALK lung cancer can look nothing like the classic symptoms we associate with the disease.
Her first sign wasn’t coughing, wheezing, or breathlessness — it was a persistent toothache. This is one of the unusual symptoms of lung cancer that most people, and even some health professionals, don’t consider at first.
Understanding ALK-Positive Lung Cancer
ALK stands for Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase, a gene that helps cells grow and develop in the early stages of life. In some people, the ALK gene fuses with another gene — most commonly EML4 — creating a dangerous “fusion protein” that’s permanently switched on, telling cells to grow uncontrollably.
This mutation is rare, accounting for just 3–7% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, but it’s aggressive and often spreads quickly to the brain, bones, and liver.
Who Gets ALK-Positive Lung Cancer?
Often diagnosed in younger patients (under 50)
More common in women
Frequently found in non-smokers or light smokers
Most often seen in the adenocarcinoma subtype of lung cancer
How a Toothache Can Signal Lung Cancer
While it’s rare, lung cancer can cause dental or facial symptoms in two main ways:
Referred nerve pain
Tumours in the upper lung can irritate nerves that share pathways with the mouth and jaw, causing pain that feels like it’s coming from the teeth.
Metastasis to the jaw or oral tissues
Although this only happens in about 1% of oral cancers, lung cancer cells can travel through the bloodstream and settle in the jawbone, gums, or temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Medical journals document several similar cases:
A man with jaw pain and lip numbness later found to have lung adenocarcinoma.
A woman with TMJ discomfort later diagnosed with lung cancer spread to the joint.
A patient with cheek numbness caused by cancer in the sphenoid bone pressing on facial nerves.
Keshia’s toothache fits this rare but dangerous pattern — a first sign of disease before any respiratory issues appeared.
Keshia’s Treatment Journey
After her September diagnosis, Keshia began chemotherapy. By January 2024, doctors told her she was cancer-free. But three months later, the cancer returned — more aggressive than before.
This time it had spread to:
Liver
Lymph nodes
Brain
She underwent:
30 rounds of radiotherapy
More chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Despite these treatments, her condition continues to worsen. Her mobility has declined, her speech is affected, and her memory has been impacted by brain involvement.
What Are the Early Signs of ALK Lung Cancer?
While every patient is different, early signs of ALK lung cancer can include:
Persistent cough (or sometimes no cough at all)
Unexplained chest pain
Shortness of breath
Fatigue and weakness
Unexplained weight loss
Headaches, vision changes, or seizures (due to brain spread)
But as Keshia’s case shows, unusual symptoms of lung cancer — like dental pain, jaw aches, or facial numbness — should never be ignored, especially if standard dental checks show no cause.
Why ALK-Positive Cancer Behaves Differently
ALK-positive lung cancer often:
Progresses faster than many other lung cancers
Is diagnosed at a more advanced stage
Has a high risk of early brain metastases
May respond poorly to standard chemotherapy
However, ALK-targeted therapies have revolutionised treatment. Drugs like crizotinib, alectinib, brigatinib, and lorlatinib block the ALK protein, halting cancer growth and, in many cases, shrinking tumours dramatically.
The challenge? These drugs don’t always work forever. Over time, cancer cells can develop resistance, as Keshia’s relapse shows.
Why She Needs Treatment Abroad
Keshia’s NHS doctors have warned that if the cancer keeps growing over the next 12 weeks, they will have to stop treatment, as no further options are available here.
Her hope now lies in the WEGE Clinic in Bonn, Germany, which offers advanced therapies not available on the NHS, including:
Trans-arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) – a targeted method that delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumour’s blood supply and blocks it to enhance the drug’s effect.
Dendritic cell therapy – an immunotherapy approach designed to train the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
These treatments cost £40,000. With her children Josiah (17), Sienna (14), and Ezekiel (9), and her partner Jimmy by her side, Keshia is determined to keep fighting.
The Emotional and Physical Toll
Today, Keshia struggles with everyday tasks. She finds it difficult to walk and speak, and her memory has been affected by the spread to her brain.
Huddersfield West Yorkshire: A Community Comes Together
Across Huddersfield and the wider West Yorkshire area, friends, neighbours, and strangers have rallied to support Keshia. Her GoFundMe page has already raised over £8,000 — but she still needs more than £30,000 to reach her target.
This wave of generosity shows the power of community in the face of devastating illness.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-keshia-access-lifesaving-cancer-treatment-in-germany
Skin, Confidence, and Coping Through Cancer
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can take a toll on the skin, causing dryness, sensitivity, and changes in pigmentation. While these effects are often secondary to the fight for life, they can still impact self-esteem.
Gentle, hydrating skincare and professional advice can make a difference. For ideas on how to look after your skin during difficult times, see our Aesthetic Procedures & Skincare Tips Guide — because feeling better in your own skin can lift your spirits when you need it most.
Lessons from Keshia’s Story
Listen to your body – If something feels wrong, don’t ignore it, even if initial tests are normal.
Push for answers – Unexplained, persistent symptoms deserve further investigation.
Be aware of the unexpected – Unusual symptoms of lung cancer are real and can save lives if recognised early.
Value genetic testing – Identifying mutations like ALK can open the door to targeted treatments.
Final Word
Keshia’s story is both rare and deeply human. It’s about a mother’s love, the fight for more time, and the cruel way early signs of ALK lung cancer can hide in plain sight.
From a toothache to a life-threatening diagnosis, her journey shows why we need more awareness of ALK lung cancer symptoms and more access to advanced treatments — both here in the UK and abroad.
If you’d like to help Keshia access the care she needs, you can find her fundraiser online. And remember: sometimes, the smallest and strangest symptom can be the first sign of something that needs urgent attention.
Published by William Tams, Daniel Fox, Ahmad Syad, Kenzi Roberts