Stephen Baum
'All I can say is that our health system and the professionals involved are the best you will get. You should have every confidence in a good outcome.'
Stephen Baum, a life-long resident of Victor Harbor, has lived a life rich with family, work, and hobbies. Married for 40 years, Stephen has two children—one in New Zealand and the other in England—and a border collie, another devoted member of the family. Stephen works as a postman and part-time sheep farmer, breeding lambs and producing wool. “Farming is as much a hobby as a job,” Stephen notes, adding that he enjoys gardening and reading in his spare time.
Stephen’s cancer journey began with an unexpected injury. While removing earmuffs after tractor work, he accidentally sliced his ear open. When the wound failed to heal, his wife urged him to seek medical advice. Initially dismissive, Stephen’s attitude changed when he recognised a distinct smell, one he associated with cancer in old ewes. “That smell made me realise this wasn’t just a chronic wound,” he recalls.
After a series of consultations and scans, Stephen was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer affecting his ear. Specialists at Flinders Medical Centre assured him that while the cancer wasn’t life-threatening, it would require immediate attention to prevent further complications. “Dr. Valentine, my surgeon, told me the cancer probably won’t kill me, but if we don’t do something about it, it will take over your head. I’ve since realised that’s surgeon humour.”
Stephen underwent a procedure called a pinectomy, which involved removing his ear and reconstructing the area using tissue from his wrist, connected to his neck for blood supply. The operation was a success, and no further chemotherapy or radiation was needed. However, an incidental diagnosis of lymphoma, discovered during routine lymph node analysis, added a new layer to his journey. “That was a bit of a downer,” he admits, but ongoing monitoring with his haematologist has kept him optimistic.
Adjusting to life without an ear has been easier than Stephen expected. “Most people don’t even notice until it comes up in conversation,” he says. Sporting a beard to camouflage the missing ear and donning a beanie during Victor Harbor’s chillier months.
Stephen praises the care he received at Flinders Medical Centre, singling out Dr. Valentine and nurses like Tracey Nicholls for their exceptional support. “I cannot praise the surgeons and staff enough—it was brilliant,” he says. Participating in the HANCA campaign for Challenge 440 is his way of giving back and raising awareness about Head and Neck Cancers. “All I can say is that our health system and the professionals involved are the best you will get. You should have every confidence in a good outcome.”
Stephen’s journey highlights the importance of early intervention and the resilience it takes to adapt following a diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer.