There is a very small percentage of patients who have noticed discomfort from the very first day of rads (regardless of their tumor location). Everyone is a little different and will react in their own unique way to everything. Even in several patients with identical treatment plans of tumors the same size and location there can be a wide variety of differences. This is probably why your physician is being so vague. Its not possible to predict which side effects and to what degree a patient will experience them. Almost every patient will notice changes in their swallowing, sense of taste, pain ranging from a slight discomfort to debilitating pain and a sore throat. Many patients lose their voice during rads, like the other side effects its only temporary. To me, it sounds completely normal for you to react to rads like you have. Unfortunately, all the side effects gradually become more pronounced as you go along with the hardest days being after finishing rads. In doing a quick search here of the word Parotid, I found many posts referencing it as well as info on the main OCF website.

Parotid info from main OCF pages

Radiation info from the Main OCF site

When you have some free time, read thru posts here and check out the above links. You can also click on the blue phrases to get even more detailed info. An educated patient can be a much better advocate for themselves.

Best wishes!