| | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | I am wondering if anyone else is or has experienced this and what was done. My parotid gland in the left cheek has been causing problems. The accessory gland and parotid duct started swelling up as the facial muscle near there atrophied. It started one day in August 2011. Since then the submental node on the right side started swelling. I've had FNA's on the gland and all were negative for cancer.
I "milk" the gland when it gets marble sized. Ironically, it doesn't even show up on scans. I would have expected at least some pain or fever by now but it seems to only be a personal annoyance. I do find the submental gland gets pretty large but if I release the saliva manually for a day or two, it shrinks back down.
I have been on a "wait and see" program but the doctors haven't found anything of concern yet.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 61 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 61 | Hi, not sure what gland those are. I am 4 1/2 weeks out of treatment. I am starting to eat lots by mouth. I noticed on both cheeks , back by molars , lumps coming out. There is some white gunk there, but that comes off with toothbrush. Is this normal. Could this be what you have?
Tongue Cancer
1/2 tongue removed, replaced by flap from forearm. April 15, 2014
neck disection, 1 lympnode involved, doctors removed all to make sure cancer is gone.
30 rad treatments and 2 cisplatin chemo, doctor said I did not need the third
one. Finished up July 30,2014
Chemo treatment was my choice. The board felt surgery and radiation was plenty to take care of my cancer.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Sometimes that white gunk is really salivary stones or the formation of them coming out before they become stones. As far as normal, everyone is so different, it's hard to wrap my head around that word. Even when things stabilize, I've seen them change later.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 61 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 61 | Thanks. They seem so get smaller at night. Then when I get up, and eat and drink, they get a little bigger. Im wondering if I am aggrevating them, cause I do chew my food on both sides. I called my doctor, he said if they are white, painful, or bleeding to call him back. Heedid not seem to concerned. I see him tuesday. Im 4 1/2 weeks out of treatment 30 radiation and 2 cisplatin... plus surgery in april... I guess I could still be healing.....ty
Tongue Cancer
1/2 tongue removed, replaced by flap from forearm. April 15, 2014
neck disection, 1 lympnode involved, doctors removed all to make sure cancer is gone.
30 rad treatments and 2 cisplatin chemo, doctor said I did not need the third
one. Finished up July 30,2014
Chemo treatment was my choice. The board felt surgery and radiation was plenty to take care of my cancer.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 61 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 61 | I also noticed a weird taste in my mouth. Iike sour or metallic.
Tongue Cancer
1/2 tongue removed, replaced by flap from forearm. April 15, 2014
neck disection, 1 lympnode involved, doctors removed all to make sure cancer is gone.
30 rad treatments and 2 cisplatin chemo, doctor said I did not need the third
one. Finished up July 30,2014
Chemo treatment was my choice. The board felt surgery and radiation was plenty to take care of my cancer.
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