Liverpool Student Ella Tyman Shares Journey After Rare Parotid Gland Cancer Diagnosis

Ella Tyman, a 21-year-old student from Liverpool, England, was initially convinced she had a simple eye infection. But doctors soon discovered a lump behind her left ear, leading to a diagnosis that would dramatically change her life.

After undergoing CT and MRI scans followed by a biopsy, Ella was diagnosed with parotid gland cancer, a rare form of head and neck cancer.

By the time she underwent surgery on September 6, 2023, the tumor had grown around her facial nerves. Surgeons were forced to cut part of the nerve in order to remove the cancerous growth.

The six-hour operation successfully removed the tumor, but Ella was left unable to move the left side of her face.

She subsequently underwent 33 rounds of proton therapy as part of her treatment. In January 2024, she received the encouraging news that she was cancer-free.

However, the effects of the disease and treatment have continued. As of 2026, Ella still has limited movement on the left side of her face, although she has regained some mobility and continues receiving treatment.

Her experience highlights how rare cancers can initially resemble ordinary health problems and how treatment can have lasting physical effects even after the disease has been successfully treated.

Source: NY Post