| Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | This morning I had a bit of an earache on the right side, but didn't think too much of it. Tonight, there is an egg sized swelling in front of/below my right ear - going down my jaw and to the top of my neck.
I did not notice this before, but to be truthful I have no idea when it appeared. I am past the point of detailed checks of mouth and neck every day - or I thought I was. WHAT is going on? I do not have a cold, sniffles or any virus, and have had my flu shot.
I had some minor surgery on my right wrist on Tuesday, but I do not see how this could be related to this lump. The lump/bulge feels firm. I have been taking T3's for pain in my wrist, but Lord knows I have taken many of those and have never had a reaction.,
How worried should I be? Any thoughts? Cancel the first question - I'm already worried - just trying to decide whether to flat out panic or not. I wish these things got easier. Truth is for me, as much as I like to say I am more accepting of whatever happens, I remain a frightened marshmallow.
Donna
Last edited by Pandora99; 12-06-2012 09:02 PM.
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Donna,
I have no idea what it could be - maybe some kind of infection? Are you running a fever? If it was me, I would give my doctor a call first thing in the morning. Let us know!
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0 Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV- Surgery: June 2005 RT: Feb-Apr 2006 HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105! Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010 Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
| | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | Oh Donna, it never gets easier does it. I get into an emotional spin whenever something odd happens health wise with Kris. All I can suggest is what you already know, go and get it checked out by your doc. The lump seems to have come up awfully quickly to be a cancerous node. Together with the ear pain it's probably an infective reaction. Get it checked. Thinking of you, Tammy
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT. PET 6/11 clear. R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in. March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im so sorry you are worried and have something wrong, Donna! I agree with the above, this came out of nowhere and sounds awfully large to be cancer so its probably a sign of infection. I would still call the doc and see if you can get in there today or early next week. I know how you worry and wont relax until you get checked. I dont think it sounds serious but be safe and get checked.
Good luck!!! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 126 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 126 | Is it painful? A few weeks ago I had a large painful lump pop up right below my jaw line, which also caused me to panic. However, it went down after I rubbed it for a while. It turned out to be a stone in my salivary duct, and the buildup of the saliva caused my salivary gland to swell. Maybe there is a chance that's what this could be?
Emily - 24 years old at diagnosis HPV-, no risk factors T2N2b Squamous Cell Carcinoma Left oral tongue, poorly differentiated Hemiglossectamy, reconstruction, partial neck dissection 30 Radiation treatments, weekly chemo (cisplatin) 1/13/12 last day of treatment Diagnosed October 2011
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | No, the lump is not painful. Whenever I get swellings in my neck I get "prickly" skin stretching sensations and that, & the bit of ear pain alerted me. I have now e mailed my oncologist surgeon's nurse this morning and I see my GP on Weds so we'll see what happens. Words cannot describe how frustrated I feel at not knowing WHEN it is appropriate to contact a professional and when I should just back off and relax. My doctors are awesome and I don't want to waste their valuable time, and at the same time I don't want to ignore something that should be addressed.
Thanks for answers. More opinions/experiences welcome.
Donna
Last edited by Pandora99; 12-07-2012 08:43 AM.
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | You're not wasting the doctors time. If you can't see your doctor or clinic now, maybe go to the ER. I don't know if its getting better or worse, but you don't want your breathing or swallowing effected, and suggest to see medical care. It could be anything, nothing major, even a reaction to the T3, the anesthesia if you had it, or late occurring effect from treatment, lymphdemia or something else.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 | It could be an ear infection. One morning during Christmas time last year I woke with a slight ear ache, next thing my cheek and eye on the same side was swollen with a large red patch. The swelling spread.
A couple of months back it happened again but swelling appeared below and around my ear that time. I was concerned it could spread and create havoc with my throat and airways. Both times my Doctor prescribed Sofradex ear drops. Swelling and ear ache was gone within a couple of days.
Karen
Last edited by Karen Rose; 12-07-2012 05:08 PM. Reason: typo.
46 yrs: Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0 Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs 30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin, 30 x HBO Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy (hip bone to reconstruct jaw) Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw Mar'09 Debulk flap Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 60 | I agree that your doctors don't mind being bothered when you are worried. I tend to panic now with every lump. It could be a tooth infection to. If the swelling moves up I would go to the ER right away. I hope it is something that's a quick fix with antibiotics. Good wishes and all the comments lately from everyone here have helped me stay a bit focused at the moment.
10/10 IV OSCC metastatic to lymph nodes. 10/10 Peg,Port,Trech. due to rad scarring cannot swallow. 9/12 Pet clean. SCC back again 11/12. Tumor attached to jugular, Rad DX left side of neck 11/19/12. No Chemo or Rads. MRI on 1/11/13 for chronic pain w/pet scan 2/15/13.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 | Hi - sorry you have to go through this. It definitely sounds like an infection, and maybe because youve been rewired (as in - missing some nodes) theres a build up of fluid there. Hope it's nothing - but glad you're having it checked. Hugs!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | |
Forums23 Topics18,235 Posts197,106 Members13,295 | Most Online1,788 Jan 23rd, 2025 | | | |