Explain to them that the pain is persistent, it comes and goes but is persistent and tell them you need to know why..don't ask but insist. You've had confirmed SCC, so it's not silly to ask. My ear and toothaches were directly related to my cancer. I'm not saying yours is cancer related but it hurts for some reason and you need to know why. After a series of tests they determined I had some hearing loss, but nothing abnormal for my age, I also had no infection, so after the process of elimination my ENT said it was most likely cancer related and he was right. I was complaining about on again and off again ear pain for about 2 or 3 months before I was diagnosed for OC.

7-16-08 age 37@Dx, T3N0M0 SCC 4.778cm tumor, left side of oral tongue, non smoker, casual drinker, I am the 4th in my family to have H&N cancer
8-13-08 left neck dissection and 40% of tongue removed, submandibular salivary gland & 14 nodes clean, no chemo, IMRTx35
11-4-08 Recovering & feeling better