Ella Tyman, a Liverpool student, was left unable to move the left side of her face after undergoing life-saving surgery for rare parotid gland cancer. She initially thought she had a nasty eye infection when she visited a walk-in clinic with swelling and puffiness, but a medic spotted an unusual, inch-long lump behind her left ear.
The then-21-year-old was rushed to Aintree Hospital, where scans and biopsies revealed the rare cancer, a head-and-neck tumour wrapped around crucial facial nerves. What she was told would be a straightforward 45-minute procedure with a week's recovery became a gruelling six-hour operation after doctors found the mass had grown quickly.
Devastating aftermath
When Ella woke up, she could feel the left side of her face but could not move it at all, after surgeons were forced to cut nerves to remove the cancer. She said that moment was instantly devastating, even though she knew the priority was saving her life.
In the months leading up to surgery, she had two CT scans, an ultrasound, an MRI and two biopsies, while trying to stay focused on university plans and her future working in TV. She later said she had convinced herself everything would be “sorted”, until the diagnosis landed on August 10, 2023.
Treatment and recovery
The operation was brought forward after a last-minute cancellation, and she accepted the next-day slot, expecting a routine fix. But in theatre, medics discovered the tumour had become more complex, with Ella saying afterwards the growth had even doubled during the wait.
She said it took four months before she could face her reflection, with the left side drooping and everyday things like make-up feeling impossible. Despite that, she started at Salford University on September 15, 2023, admitting she felt fragile meeting new people but did not want to hide at home.
In November 2023, she began 33 rounds of proton therapy at The Christie in Manchester to blast away any remaining cancer cells. Ella said the therapy made her seriously unwell, but she was declared cancer-free on January 10, 2024, describing it as a huge weight lifted.
Ongoing management
She now manages long-term damage rather than disease itself, with around 30 Botox injections every three months to help overworked facial muscles relax. She also does daily exercises and massage, and can now close her eye a little and lift her cheek slightly — but still uses a special sticker to keep her eye shut for sleep.
In May 2026, she had further surgery, including a face-lift-style procedure and fat transfer from her stomach to fill a gap. Ella has said she signed the risk paperwork but barely dwelled on it because she just wanted the tumour gone.
She has regained only about 10% of movement on the affected side, and has spoken about tough days and feeling she is mourning her old appearance. But she says pushing on with university rebuilt her confidence, and she is now aiming for her first job in film and TV with a new outlook after surviving cancer as a teenager.
