Patient Develops Irish Accent After Prostate Cancer

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Irish

Patient started speaking in Irish accent after prostate cancer

Doctors described in BMJ Journal, a man developed FAS (foreign accent syndrome) as a result of prostate cancer, which is an unusual and rare manifestation of the condition.

The study describes the case of a man in his fifties diagnosed with prostate cancer 20 months before his speech problems. Furthermore, he also noted an evident change in his speech patterns, where he started speaking in an “Irish brogue” accent.

The team wrote,

The patient had never been to Ireland and had never previously spoken in an Irish accent, though he had Irish family/friends and had lived in England briefly in his 20s

 His accent was uncontrollable, present in all settings and gradually became persistent.

The patient told his doctors that he neither suffered head trauma nor any other symptoms. However, he did have unintentional weight loss. His MRI results were normal, but his CT scan of the pelvis and abdomen revealed progressive prostate cancer.

Other than being diagnosed with foreign accent syndrome, he was referred to neurology to further investigate.

After receiving treatment, the patient was still speaking in his Irish accent three months later. In addition, he also developed abdominal and leg pain. Moreover, his scans showed the spread of cancer to the liver and bones. Cancer further progressed and metastasized to the brain.

After receiving treatment, the patient was still speaking in his Irish accent three months later. In addition, he also developed abdominal and leg pain. Moreover, his scans showed the spread of cancer to the liver and bones. Cancer further progressed and metastasized to the brain.

The team believes that his foreign accent syndrome was due to paraneoplastic syndrome, which may be associated with prostate cancer. Moreover, the progression of FAS coincided with cancer progression.

The team wrote,

Paraneoplastic syndromes, are systemic symptoms caused by abnormal masses “through hormonal, immune-mediated or unknown mechanisms

This is the first-ever case reported in the medical literature. Although two other cases have been reported in patients suffering from other malignant cancers.

The patient died under palliative care and his “Irish brogue-like accent was maintained until his death”.

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