THIS gruesome picture shows the real dangers of smoking.

Father-of-one Mickey Brady has shared the picture of himself online — after he had a cancerous tumour removed from his neck.

The 51-year-old, who started smoking when he was just 14, was diagnosed with tonsil cancer after medics did tests on a lumps in his cheek and neck.

He has now undergone an operation to remove his left tonsil and a tumour in his neck and is also facing six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

He posted the picture on Facebook showing the aftermath of his operation in a bid to stop others from smoking.

Mr Brady, of Cleveland Gardens in Deane, said: “I first tried smoking when I was 14 and started to go out with my friends.

“At that age you think you are indispensable but as you get older your health does catch up with you.

“I am the first in my family to be diagnosed with cancer and you just don’t think it will happen to you.

“I was so shocked when the doctor said it was cancer.

“I just sat there numb for what felt like a life time, but it must have only been a few minutes. It is very scary.”

Cancer of the tonsil is one of the head and neck cancers.

It develops in the part of the throat just behind the mouth, called the oropharynx and is most commonly caused by smoking and regularly drinking a lot of alcohol.

The father-of-one, who works for Bolton Council as a neighbourhood community officer, said he has changed his lifestyle after the diagnosis and has now quit smoking.

He added: “I didn’t want to scare people with the picture but I just wanted to get them talking about the risks that come with smoking.

“If what has happened to me stops just one person from smoking then it is a bonus.

“Doctors said that they did catch it early so they are hopeful that I can be cured but I have just got to stay positive.

“Thankfully I have a lot of supportive friends and family around me.”