The major salivary glands produce approximately one quart of saliva each day, which in turn plays a crucial role in food digestion, swallowing, speech, and protection of teeth against bacteria and ...

They all secrete saliva -- the parotid through tubes called salivary ducts near the upper teeth, the submandibular under the tongue, and the sublingual through ducts on the floor of the mouth.

The primary symptom of salivary gland cancer is swelling on one side of the face. Chelsea from West Derby, Liverpool, has been told the condition is incurable and will inevitably return.