Susannah with temporary facial paralysis, hours after surgery with Iain Nixon.
Susannah spotted a lump under her ear at the end of 2022, but it was dismissed as a salivary stone.
Just over a year later, early 2024 she was referred to a specialist with an urgent suspected cancerous lump and was diagnosed with a Pleomorphic Adenoma - a rare 4cm tumour deeply rooted under her facial nerve.
With only 200 people diagnosed in Scotland pa, of that only 30 have under the facial nerve, in addition to Susannah having had two spells of Bell’s Palsy when growing up, so was at increased risk.
On 13 Nov 2024, she became the first in the Scotland to undergo minimally invasive surgery for a deep lobe parotid tumour, performed by Iain Nixon at NHS St John’s, Livingston, with support from retired Professor Mark McGurk, a leading expert in non-invasive salivary gland tumour removal who worked at UCLH, London, and created the hologram below and travelled up from London to oversee the surgery.
The surgery carried inherent risks, including the possibility of permanent facial paralysis. However, thanks to meticulous planning using a hologram created from MRI slides, Susannah experienced only temporary facial paralysis, with her smile returning one month post surgery, ahead of expectations. As time progressed, the accompanying numbness is diminishing. For more information visit Medicalar.
On 2 Dec 2024, Susannah received the relieving news that her tumour was benign. But 13,000 in the UK are diagnosed with Head & Neck cancer. In light of this, we aim to raise a significant amount for Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK, a charity that Professor McGurk is a trustee of.
We will keep everyone updated on our progress.
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