A ROUTINE to the dentist has helped saved the life of a Gourock man — after it detected potentially deadly cancer in his mouth.

Local butcher and former Inverclyde Megastar singer William Murdoch thought he was suffering from toothache and made an appointment at Crosshill Dental Surgery in Port Glasgow.

But when dentist Catriona Amadei pulled the tooth she uncovered a lump. Now the 53-year-old is facing a life-saving operation in the New Year to remove a cancerous growth.

Shocked William, of Tarbet Street, said: “A visit to the dentist really did save my life. “My surgeon told me that I now need to get a 12-hour reconstruction operation to remove the lump or I will die. “I can’t help thinking what would have happened if I hadn’t gone to the dentist when I did.

“When I went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital they didn’t even need a biopsy to tell me it was cancer. “I would like to thank Catriona and all the staff at the dentist for their swift action.

“It just shows the importance of going to the dentist and not missing appointments.”

Dentist Catriona, 33, of Crosshill Dental Surgery, Port Glasgow, said: “I wish William well and I hope that he makes a full recovery. “This is something that we have come across before. In the last ten years the rates of oral cancer has increased by 39 per cent in the UK.

“Sometimes there are no symtpoms until it is in the later stages, but there may be signs at an earlier stage that a dentist will pick up on.

“We would then refer a patient onto the appropriate services. “We don’t just take care of people’s teeth — we check the whole mouth. We assess the soft tissues as well.”

Now William, who works in Morrisons, is facing up to an illness that has claimed the life of both his mum Elizabeth and his brother Archie. But he is determined to fight the cancer and win.

He said: “I will battle this because I have so much to live for. I am getting married to my fiancee Sandra Milligan in August.

“I have my work, which I love, my family and my niece Elizabeth and I also have the Waverley. I am a member of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society — I live for that boat.”

He has worked as a butcher in Greenock for 38 years and is a well-kent face around the town.

William added: “I am gutted that I will not be serving my customers at Christmas for the first time ever.

“I just want to take this chance to wish them a merry Christmas and a happy new year.”

In January, surgeons will take tissue from the scapula flap to reconstruct his mouth.

William, who will marry Sandra in Largs, added: “The surgeon said that I will regain full use of my mouth and there will not be any damage. “I will then find out if I need chemo or radiotherapy.”

William, who was also a keen singer, was a Megastars finalist on a number of occasions. He added: “I loved taking part in Megastars. I don’t sing anymore but I have really great memories.”

William would also like to thank singer Gary Nichol for his support and for sending him his inspirational CD Greenock Road.