Chelsea Jones, 26, noticed a lump on her neck around two and half years ago
Chelsea noticed a lump on her neck two and half years ago(Image: Chelsea Jones)
A woman who was repeatedly told she might simply have a cold has received a heart breaking cancer diagnosis. Chelsea Jones, 26, first spotted a lump on her neck around two and a half years ago.
During multiple GP appointments, Chelsea was told the growth could be attributed to various causes, ranging from teeth grinding to merely suffering from a common cold. It wasn’t until last month that she received the devastating news that she had acinic cell carcinoma and a parotid gland tumour.
According to Cancer Research, acinic cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that forms in the acinar cells responsible for saliva production, reports the Liverpool Echo.
This uncommon form of cancer represents just a small fraction of all salivary gland tumours, typically accounting for between 1% and 6% of cases.
The charity notes there exists a “small risk of a cancer developing within the tumour”.
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Macmillan Cancer Support explains that whilst there are various types of malignant salivary tumours, this particular cancer tends to affect younger people more frequently than most other salivary gland cancers.
The primary symptom of salivary gland cancer is swelling on one side of the face.
Chelsea from West Derby, Liverpool, has been told the condition is incurable and will inevitably return.
She 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.”
Chelsea noticed a lump on her neck two and half years ago(Image: Chelsea Jones)
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.”
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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.”