A DEFIANT young man who was diagnosed with a rare cancer has started a blog to document his journey.

James Kennedy, 22, has been diagnosed with acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland.

He said the lump first appeared when he was about ten or 11, but had not got much bigger and initially, caused him no pain.

At the beginning of the year, however, the lump was interfering with his facial nerves and causing him discomfort when he ate. He visited his GP and was referred to Braintree Community Hospital and Chelmsford’s Broomfield Hospital.

He said: “All the way through they thought it was benign and non-cancerous.

“Only when they took the top part of the gland out in August and got test results back did they realise it was malignant.

“It’s frustrating because if they’d known it was cancerous, they would have taken the rest out as well.

“Because they’ve been in once, the risks are a lot higher now if they have to operate again.”

James, of Meadowside, Braintree, has been referred to a surgeon in London and had a biopsy to determine whether further surgery was needed ahead of undergoing radiotherapy.

Despite his situation, the project manager, who works for a London-based IT firm, has set up a blog called the Cancerous Bachelor, in which he writes about his journey with the disease as well as city and single life.

He said: “It was a shock, but I didn’t really take it that badly.

“I kind of thought ‘It is what it is. I can’t do anything about it now.'

“My brother was diagnosed with MS last year so it’s hard for my mum to deal with because she had that and then this as well, but my family and friends have been supportive.”

James raised £305 by taking part in Movember last month and is now braced for his next fundraising challenge, a Dryatholon.

He has already raised £170 ahead of Cancer Research’s next national fundraiser, where participants give up alcohol for the whole month of January to raise cash. To make a donation, visit justgiving.com/james-kennedydryathlete.

To read James’ blog, visit thecancerousbachelor.co.uk