Chelsea was told she could have a cold before she found out what was wrong
A woman who was told she might have a cold has been given a devastating diagnosis. Chelsea Jones, 26, from West Derby, noticed a lump on her neck around two and half years ago.
During numerous visits to the doctors, Chelsea was told it could be down to various issues, from her grinding her teeth to just having a cold. It was only last month that she was told she had acinic cell carcinoma and a parotid gland tumour.
According to Cancer Research, acinic cell carcinoma is a form of cancer that develops in the acinar cells which produce saliva.
It is a rare form of cancer that accounts for a small percentage of all salivary gland tumours, typically between 1% and 6%. The organisation adds there is a “small risk of a cancer developing within the tumour”.
Macmillan Cancer Support says there are several types of cancerous salivary tumours, but this type of cancer tends to develop in younger people more than most other salivary gland cancers.
The most common symptom of salivary gland cancer is swelling on the side of your face.
Chelsea has been told it is not curable and is guaranteed to return. Speaking to the ECHO, Chelsea said: ”I have had a lump in my neck for two and a half years. Doctors have been telling me that it is glandular fever and that I had swollen lymph nodes. They also said to me that my saliva glands were blocked.
“Then they told me that I had TMJ, which is when you grind your teeth, so I spent hundreds of pounds on gum shields. They said it was a common cold.
“Eventually, I kicked and screamed to get a biopsy two and half weeks ago. I said, it’s not a lymph node, it’s nothing to do with me grinding my teeth.”
Even so, the diagnosis on July 10 came as a huge shock to Chelsea. She said: “I collapsed. It was a good job my mum was with me. It’s insane, I’ve never heard of anything like it.
“It’s a rare form of cancer. They did say it is slow growing, but they don’t know for certain until I get another MRI scan on Saturday. Then I will find out if it’s spread to anywhere else in my body and find out what stage the cancer is at, but I’ve been told it’s 100% not curable.
“I will get the tumour removed in a few weeks and then I will start radiotherapy. They don’t know how long I’m going to live for because it’s that rare.”
Chelsea is frustrated that her cancer was undetected for years. She is now urging others to trust their instincts and get any symptoms fully checked out.
Chelsea said: “I just want to raise awareness, get people to check their lumps and not take no for an answer. Feel your lumps and bumps, study your own body. Since my diagnosis, I’ve actually found another lump at the back of my neck that I need to mention when I next go into hospital.
“You know your own body, you know when something’s not right. If I can help one person, that’s my job done.”
