Hi! First I want to say that everyone here is great the way they encourage everyone else! I found this site looking for an experienced head & neck surgeon with salivary glands. I've had a parotid lump for several years, but then started with a feeling of a lump in my throat, lymph node enlargement and first right-sided submandibular lump and then left submandibular swelling. I've now also developed a "bump" in the back of my throat and a small sore on the back cheek. I get a lot of pressure like something pushing up into my ear and also like a finger pushing on my throat. I live in an area without good medical care & no specialist type docs. I don't think I have cancer (or hope not), but wondered if someone here could help with some other questions. The doc feels and can see the lumps/swelling. However, they do not show up on MRI or CAT. Can dental work or a bridge cause a problem with these? the local radiologist said no, but it doesn't make sense to me. I do get scared about whatever it is because it sometimes swells to where it's protruding into my throat. I'm kind of grasping at straws here, any one have advice.

Karina,

First, I would like to welcome you to the neighborhood. I am glad you have found this site but not excited at your reasons why. Hopefully you will not need to hang out here long. The long and short of it...if you have lumps and sores that have persisted over a couple of weeks, you need to get it checked out. The only sure way is to get a biopsy of the swollen tissue or enlarged lymph node. Worrying about it will not go away until you have an actual sample of what is bothering you evaluated under a microscope. You can keep speculating and having the same doctors look at you and feel it over and over but the answer will not change until the detail level of the facts change. Fear will not give you peace of mind and will not properly diagnose the disease or lack of disease in your body. Take the time to find someplace that has the experience to get you the right answer. It sounds from your post that you do not have the level of confidence in the doctors in your area to give you the peace of mind you need. The upside of this is that you don't have to travel far; the downside is that you will worry yourself sick and if your hunch is right it could prove to be deadly. It really is your call and nobody will have your interests at heart like you do and will.

Ed

Thanks. The parotid has been there several years until changing recently. The other has been there 7 months. Unfortunately, insurance change in the middle which made me switch docs and now have to have referrals anywhere. My doc has to get a preauthorization and justify with documentation why to send me out of the area (I will need to travel 4 or more hours to get to a specialist). He won't do that because the MRI was normal as relating to the symptoms - they did find a cyst on the spine (I've also had 3 rounds of antibiotics). At this point, I'm not as worried as to what it might or could be (that's of no use right now), but just horribly frustrated. Thanks for listening.

And just what do the docs think is causing these lumps and bumps that are swelling and not showing up on CT scans? And why are you so certain it is not cancer? Because you don't smoke or drink? There are a lot of people on this board with cancer that didn't smoke or drink. Why can't your doctor do a biospy?

If this persisted any longer than two weeks and they don't have an explanation for what it is or even if they do and it is not responding ot treatment, I'd demand a referral for a second opinion and get my tail to a major cancer center whether it was 4 hours away or 44. This disease is treatable if caught early. One of the first symptoms I had was a swelling of a lymph node under my right mandible. They put me on antibiotics, did a needle biopsy which came back negative. That lump disappeared but was immediately followed by another in another node which when surgically removed showed SCC.

Take care,
Eileen

I'm not sure that it's not cancer, I'm just trying not to panic. I do have a very strong family history of cancer. I did demand a referral which got me an ENT that blew me off. I had to ask him to do a physical oral exam instead of just a visual inspection! I just got my general practitioner changed & I requested from her yesterday that I have a needle biopsy & ultrasound. I'm not sure where I will need to go to get that, but I'll go for sure. I keep hitting a road block because the CAT & MRI were "normal".

There is a visiting surgeon that will be here next Tuesday & I did get it arranged to see him. My doc wants him to scope my throat - basically because she wasn't sure what else to do. I'm not sure that will show anything, but he is at least another doctor that I can try - perhaps he has dealt with these things before. Not one doctor can know everything. I think I'll see what he has to say & will let him scope me if he wants. It can't hurt.

I just talked to my husband & based on reactions here & our frustration - I will go to a major medical center & pay my own office visit to see a specialist (I can travel about 5.5 hours to get to Mayo). At least at Mayo I think I'd have all bases covered, no matter what it might be. If that doc thinks something else needs to be done - I'll fight with the insurance company to pay, even without the referral.

Thanks for helping me.

Hey Katrina,
Welcome and I think getting to Mayo would be a great idea. I have heard nothing but great things from there. One of the not so good decisions we made in the beginning was not going to a comprehensive cancer center immediately...we just didn't know enough then. Go to Mayo and get checked out...then you will know for sure and get on with life either way.
Take care and God bless,
Debbie

Here's a list of comprehensive cancer centers to choose from:

NCI: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/1_2.htm

NCCN: http://www.nccn.org/members/network.asp

Most have programs for housing patients and family during treatment.

WOW! Thank you Gary! I didn't expect to find anything in the Dakota's... Mayo was listed, but I can actually get to Omaha a little faster. I didn't know that they had a head & neck clinic. I see that they also have an outreach clinic that goes to Missouri Valley, Iowa - that would be even closer than Omaha. You've been such a BIG help! Big hugs to you.

Best of luck to you Katrina ...we will be sending lots of positve energy your way.

Take care
Marica