Dad urges public to attend dentist after daughter's shock diagnosis

Derek Christie, from Parkhouse in Glasgow, has described the 'surreal' moments he found out his daughter, Victoria Christie, had salivary gland cancer ahead of a fundraising gig in Drumchapel.

The 29-year-old carer, from Pollok in Glasgow, was diagnosed in January this year after finding 'abnormalities' on the roof of her mouth.

Victoria Christie was diagnosed with a type of mouth cancer in January (Image: Colin Mearns)

Derek said: "She went for biopsies and then was diagnosed with a very rare form of oral cancer called salivary gland cancer.

"I've never heard of it before. It was surreal and a complete sucker punch. It just took us all by surprise.

"I thought 'she's only 29'. She's never smoked. She's not a drinker. She works as a support worker for the elderly.

"I just think it's something that people should know about this type of cancer. People, go for mammograms, prostate tests, and smear tests but you would never think of your mouth.

"Dental appointments should never be ignored. That's why they're there. Anytime you’ve got a check-up go for it."

Victoria underwent several procedures at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (Image: christie family)

Victoria was passed from the dentist to the dental hospital to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital before she received her diagnosis.

She underwent four operations, her last in March, including a 10-hour surgery which took skin from her arm to reconstruct part of her throat.

Thankfully, Victoria has since become cancer-free.

(Image: christie family)Victoria has a scar on her arm where they took skin to reconstruct her throat 

Around 720 people are diagnosed with salivary gland cancer in the UK every year according to Cancer Research UK.

Possible symptoms of a salivary gland issue include a painless lump or swelling in your jaw, cheek, mouth or neck, numbness in a part of your face, problems swallowing and swelling on one side of the face.

Despite the shock to the family, Derek says it has only made them closer as they prepare to raise funds for charity with a special gig.

He said: "It's not one of those things where it blew the family apart, it made us even stronger as a group.

"Whatever comes, we'll face it and we'll take it on."

"After the gobsmack of getting hit over the head with the news. She now has a big, massive scar down her left arm that took the skin away and part of the muscle to reconstruct the back of your throat.

"After the operation and the gobsmack of getting hit over the head with the news, we realised there's no support network for survivors of gland cancer in the United Kingdom.

"The only support you could find is in the United States, which I think is pretty sad."

Derek has been organising a special gig to raise funds for cancer charities (Image: Colin Mearns) Derek, who suffers from a chronic lung condition, has been in the music scene for 30 years and decided to call his friends in the business and ask them to come together to raise some money - and they have.

He said: "I thought to myself, what can I do? What can I do with chronic lung disease? 

"I called the guys that I know in the music scene in Glasgow and asked them to put something together."

Speaking ahead of the event, Victoria has said she is 'very, very proud' of her dad.

The fundraiser on November 2 in the Goodyear Social Club will raise money for Cancer Research UK and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery unit in the Queen Elizabeth.

The gig which kicks off at 7.30pm will feature three bands, The Sidekicks, Martina and the Oldie Goldies.

Tickets cost £10 and can be bought here or at the door.