Dad, 42, died weeks after discovering deadly 'mouth ulcer'

Richard was diagnosed with mouth cancer after having trouble eating and concentrating

A 42-year-old father and musician passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, which he initially thought was a mouth ulcer.

Richard Paul Gale had been experiencing difficulties eating and concentrating, and an inquest at Cornwall's coroner's court in Truro on September 24 aimed to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.

The inquest revealed that Richard, who first visited his doctor on January 3, was hesitant to be hospitalized despite his GP's advice. He also missed subsequent medical appointments after reporting mouth pain in January, reports CornwallLive.

When he eventually went to the hospital, he received pain relief and underwent tests. Following various investigations, Richard was diagnosed with carcinoma of the tongue in February, with his cancer described as "very invasive" and inoperable.

Although he initially responded well to chemotherapy, with his tumor shrinking by mid-March, his condition worsened by April 9, and he was deemed "very unwell" with an infection.

Richard expressed concerns about losing income due to treatment and did not want to return to the hospital, telling a community healthcare practitioner that he had too much work and was losing money.

He reiterated this on April 10 as his condition continued to deteriorate. Paramedics visited the home of a man twice on April 10 due to concerns for his welfare, but received no response.

The following day, he was found unresponsive by his housemate and was declared deceased. It is believed he had collapsed and hit his head on the television at his residence in Newquay.

The inquest was informed that upon diagnosis, Richard was given a prognosis of only four to six months to live. Given his high-functioning autism and Asperger's, a tailored plan was established for his treatment and care, which included access to a 24-hour helpline.

Richard, who was passionate about music, was remembered by his parents as a "lovely son, brother and father" in a tribute read out to the coroner.

They spoke of his constructive and attentive nature and his dedication to his musical career, where he worked in various roles including composer, producer, performer, developer, and teacher. He also had a keen interest in game development during his leisure time.

Emma Hillson, the assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, concluded that the death was due to natural causes. She stated: "On the evidence I've heard, Richard Gale died as a result of pneumonia and blood clots in the lung as a result of his metastatic cancer."

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