So I noticed this past weekend that I have a pea-sized lump in my cheek. It is completely painless and cannot be seen, but I can feel it if I pinch my cheek. I called my ENT today and she sounded a little concerned, but will not be able to see me for a week. Has anyone else experienced anything similar to this, and did it turn out to be cancer?

I feel that I have finally gotten over my incessant fear of a recurrence, and I am remaining calm, but obviously still pretty scared. I have been reassuring myself that since it is painless, i have less to worry about (as my last one was very painful), but I don't know how sound my logic is. i also don't know if this lump has been there for longer, i only noticed it because i had an ulcer in that area that I was feeling (the ulcer has since gone away).

Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Emily,

Welcome back. Since you are on familiar ground, go back to your first journey and the bouts of unknowing and reactive those strategies that helped you cope with the uncertainty and waits.

Trying to ask if it is cancer is not is really just going to f.. your mind, so work really hard to forget that question and find a way to coexist with the unknown for this coming week.

In the grand scheme of things a week is not so long and will be here in no time as long as you don't spend all your time fixated on it.

Best,
Don

I know how you feel about recurrences, which are sometimes painless, so pain is not always an indicator. It could be an abscess from an infection, having had similar or may be something else. You did the right thing by calling the ENT, who can best identify what it is, maybe with further testing. If you weren't scared, you may not have called the doctor, so it works in your favor, sometimes. Keep us posted, and good luck.

Emily, it could be several things besides cancer. You did the right thing to call your doc. They will check you out and if necessary do a biopsy to rule out cancer. Keep busy to try to keep your mind off the "what if's".

Best wishes!!!

Hi there.. hopefully it's not cancer. I am not sure if it moves that way. An ENT could tell you more. I went to my ENT with a small bubble like thing near my collar bone (it was an air or fluid bubble and has since gone) he right off said well that would be very unusual as cancer doesn't usually move that way... (he's sees where it moves all the time) In all the time i've been here I haven't heard of spread to the Tongue to cheek ( though I imagine it can spread anywhere as we are all individuals wired differently. Generally it travels along the path of least resistance so I've been told, so along the nerves to the nodes, and nearby areas... I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I haven't heard anyone here having that happen... anyone ??? I imagine if it has happened then they will be along. I have heard of spread from cheek to gum which makes some sense, and vice versa, and tongue to tonsil and throat...

It could be scar tissue from your treatment or a number of things... fingers crossed its nothing serious... and many hugs... push to see her before then if possible call and ask to be put on a cancellation list.

Thanks for the feedback! Cheryl, you had temporarily made me feel much better! I didn't sleep a wink last night, I have been trying to mentally prepare myself for a recurrence and have been pretty upset. I figure though if it is a recurrence, the fact that there is no pain must mean it would be in early stages, right?

My ENT (who happens to be my aunt) is out of town all week, but she said i can see her when she gets back on Saturday. She sounded a little alarmed, and then everything i have been googling online has made me more alarmed.

i had a few drinks over the weekend, which irritated my mouth. i am hoping the lump had something to do with some irritation. I will keep y'all posted though if anything new develops!

Hi emily,

I have a painless round moveable lump in my cheek too. Does your feel like it has a duct / vessel attached to it? Is there also one on your other cheek in the same spot? My right lump is larger than the left, but both feel like they have ducts attached to them. I believe they are actually enlarged baccal lymph nodes. Mine have been enlarged for about a year I believe, but sometimes they suddenly get smaller. So if you have one in the same spot in your other cheek, even if it's a little smaller, or if your lump feels like it has a duct or vessel attached to it, I wouldn't worry so much because it's almost certainly not a tumor. If it's a lymph node, look into why it's enlarged though. I plan to ask my doctor about mine when I see him.

Thanks Dan, mine is just on one side.

I also now have a new sore spot near the lump, so i insisted on seeing my ENT today and getting a thorough inspection. The doctor is pretty sure the lump is just a blocked salivary gland, and the sore spot is just some irritation as a result of radiation. Rather than biopsy it, he decided it would be less intrusive if i just move my CT scan up (I am scheduled to have it every 4 mos and my next one is not until end of May, so they will just move it up a month). I temporarily feel relieved, but we'll have to wait and see what the results are! they may still end up biopsy-ing the new spot if it isnt gone in a week, since it is probably too small to show up on the scan. ill keep you guys posted!

Please do.

Finally had my CT scan and it came back all clear!! They said the lump in my cheek is most likely a blocked salivary gland. Thank the Lord!