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A man who was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer after dismissing the symptoms as heartburn has spoken of his relief at having acted. John Wardman, 60, had experienced acid reflux and heartburn for several years and relied on Gaviscon to manage the discomfort.

The father-of-one from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, said he had just assumed the symptoms were something he had to live with and continued to use over-the-counter treatments whenever they arose - usually after drinking wine or eating spicy food. But after he began waking at night, choking and suffering from chest pains, he saw his GP, who urgently referred him for investigation.

Tests later confirmed early-stage cancer of the oesophagus - the food pipe - and John is now undergoing gruelling chemotherapy treatment.

John urged others not to ignore persistent heartburn after being diagnosed with the UK's fourth biggest cancer killer in men.

Married John, who works in his family's appliance business, said: "For two or three years before my diagnosis, I relied quite heavily on Gaviscon.

"If I had a glass of wine or ate something spicy, I'd take it and just carry on. I just thought it was one of those things."

Over time, John began experiencing symptoms he now recognises as warning signs, including waking up suddenly during the night, choking, ongoing reflux and occasional mild chest discomfort.

He added "The symptoms didn't settle when I was away and relaxing, so when I came back I contacted my GP."

The GP gave him new medication to help, but John began suffering another new symptom about a week later.

John said: "I suddenly became aware of the sensation of food travelling down my throat. It didn't feel normal, and it worried me."

Trusting his instincts, he contacted his GP again and was urgently referred for further tests.

An endoscopy carried out within a week revealed abnormalities in the oesophagus, including an affected area measuring around three to four centimetres.

Further scans confirmed early-stage oesophageal cancer linked to Barrett's oesophagus, a condition where the flat pink lining of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach is damaged by acid reflux.

As the cancer had begun to spread slightly into the surrounding tissue, doctors recommended four cycles of chemotherapy followed by surgery.

John said he has always led an active lifestyle and believes this has helped him face treatment. He enjoys skiing, walking, travelling and ballroom and Latin dancing, which he hopes to return to once treatment is complete.

The businessman added: "I'm deeply grateful that I acted on my symptoms instead of relying on medication alone. Doing something made all the difference. It meant the cancer was picked up earlier, and treatment could start quickly.

"The care I've received has been exceptional, and I have complete trust in the NHS team supporting me."

Mimi McCord, founder of Heartburn Cancer UK, said: "Many people live with heartburn for years and simply manage it with over-the-counter remedies like Gaviscon or Rennie.

"They often don't realise that persistent heartburn or acid reflux can sometimes be a warning sign of something more serious. Oesophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the UK, yet awareness of the symptoms is still very low.

"That's why stories like John's are so important. If heartburn or reflux keeps coming back, particularly for three weeks or more, it's important to speak to your GP rather than continuing to self-medicate."

Symptoms of oesophageal cancer can include having problems swallowing (dysphagia), feeling or being sick, heartburn or acid reflux, and symptoms of indigestion, such as burping a lot, according to the NHS.

Other symptoms include a cough that does not get better, a hoarse voice, and loss of appetite or weight loss without trying.

It can also include feeling tired or having no energy and pain in your throat or the middle of your chest, especially when swallowing.