Hi All,

I had treatment for oral cancer (tongue) in 2004, at the age of 30. All of my scans since then have been perfect and I have only had the usual complaints post radiation to deal with.
I now however, have a lump in a salivary gland under my ear. I first noticed it back in Ocotober '09 and it was not really painful then. My RO and my ENT did not think anything of it. It is now painful to the touch and kind of a dull ache otherwise. I went back to my ENT on Thursday because it is really bugging me and he did not like how painful it was and said "there could be a growth" and ordered an MRI. He discussed doing a biopsy first, but decided he wanted a picture of it before he messed around with it. I asked if it could just be an infection or blockage or some sort of malfunction from the radiation and he said he didn't think so. I was really not expecting that, I kept thinking this is some damage from the radiation. Of course, I have now read that a major cause of Salivary Gland cancer is exposure to radiation treatment. Wouldn't that be great, cure one cancer and cause another! I have not been able to schedule the MRI yet, because I have to wait for approval from insurance before I can even schedule. Very frustrating! I really just want to know what I am dealing with.

Does anyone have any experience with something similar to this?

Thank so much for any information or advice you have.

Samantha

Samantha, I have no experience to share, just support.

Please keep us posted.

David 2

Hello Sylvia:
I have had a similar lump-like thing below my right ear, which the right tonsil was where my cancer was, and my RO and ENT felt it and didn't think it was anything to worry about, just some swelling. It stayed quite a while and then went away, so not sure what it was, but hopefully yours will be nothing. I'll pray for you, and know how worried you are because that's what we all do, especially if something new pops up. Good Luck, and let us hear from you.
julieann

Well, after spending the morning on the phone, I was able to get the MRI scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. That is a huge relief, I just hate waiting (as we all do.)

I will keep you posted on the results. I am really hoping for a "it's nothing, see you in six months!"

Samantha, sorry I called you Sylvia before, duh, I will be thinking of you and pray that you have a successful MRI with no bad news - will be waiting for your results.
julieann

Samantha- I'll be praying that you have a good result from the MRI. So sorry you are going through this agonizing waiting process. K

I just got a call from my doctor and the MRI was clear! I was actually surprised, because I had convinced myself something was there. I am going on tomorrow for a biopsy. He still doesn't know why it is so painful. Hopefully I will get an all clear on that as well.

Sam

I had a FNA biopsy done today- wow, that was amazingly painful. I did not expect that at all. He said it would hurt "a little"- That was the understatement of the year. This was my first time having this done, is it normally painful?
He doesn't know why he can't see anything on the MRI because he can feel a lump there. He said the results should be in in a couple of days. Here goes the waiting again!

I got a message from my doctor that the biopsy was negative! Just normal salivary gland tissue- he thought the lump might just be an obstruction in the gland. So relieved. He said we would talk next week to decide what to do next. I will make sure to post if we decide to remove it or not in case anyone else ever has an issue like this come up.

How wonderful!! What a relief for you!