Salivary Gland Cancer: Dad who lost his smile to cancer following treatment | Cancer Research UK

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06/23/23

In February 2016, James Parkin was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the salivary gland; a cancer type which only effects around 1 in 100,000 people in the UK each year. To support Cancer Research UK’s Right Now campaign, James is sharing his story in a moving video that shows though cancer has changed him physically, he is still the same person inside.

https://www.cruk.org/rightnow
https://jamesparkinmusic.com

Most salivary gland cancers start in the parotid glands. Around 8 in 10 (around 80%) salivary gland cancers start here. Just over 1 in 10 (just over 10%) start in the submandibular glands. The rest start in either the sublingual glands or the minor glands.

It is much more common to have a non cancerous (benign) lump in these glands, than cancer. Around 3 out of 4 tumours in the parotid gland (around 75%) are benign. Around half (around 50%) of the tumours found in the submandibular glands are benign.

Sublingual gland tumours are very rare, but are often cancer.

To learn more about salivary gland cancer visit: https://www.cancerresearchuk.o....rg/about-cancer/sali