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Cancer Survivor Graduates University Against Odds
18 Jul
Summary
- Diagnosed with parotid gland cancer after finding lump behind ear.
- Cancer doubled in size, requiring six-hour surgery around facial nerves.
- Declared cancer-free but still undergoing treatment for lasting effects.
Ella Tyman, a 21-year-old from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, received a life-changing cancer diagnosis shortly after moving into university accommodation in autumn 2023. A lump discovered behind her ear during an appointment for an eye infection revealed she had parotid gland cancer.
What was anticipated as a brief surgical procedure to remove the tumor escalated significantly. The cancer had doubled in size, wrapping around critical facial nerves, thus extending the operation to six hours. Ella Tyman, who was 18 at the time of diagnosis, faced significant recovery challenges, including facial paralysis and bruising.
Despite considering dropping out due to her condition and undergoing proton therapy, Ella Tyman found the determination to continue her studies. With support from her family, friends, and charitable organizations like the Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Lives vs Cancer, she returned to her television and radio courses within approximately two weeks.
Her engagement with her studies, particularly her first projects, solidified her resolve. Ella Tyman was declared cancer-free just before New Year's Eve in 2023. She has since achieved a first-class honours degree, though she continues to receive treatment for the surgery's long-term effects, including further procedures and Botox appointments.
