| | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP  "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Hi people
Is there anyone out there who has had swollen salivary glands? I searched and there is some info here but it would be nice to hear something fresh.
I had a tooth extracted a few days ago and have been alert to any issues that might occur. Tonight after trying to eat some dinner, my right parotid gland (I assume it is that because I've had it before about 20 years ago) swelled up like a small balloon. Massaged it and it's gone down. Phew! Still waiting to be ultasounded and FNA'd for my swollen lymph node so I had a moment of panic. Saturday night, by myself, no one to take me to doctor so the last thing I needed was a medical emergency.
I found a thyroid cancer website where people were complaining about this after radiation. Makes sense that intact glands are unhappy about the lack of flow of saliva and get blocked or irritated.
1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 | No, not swollen saliva glands, but I discovered Lymphedema is something to be careful with. The lymphatic drainage is all compromised and it can cause a lot of swelling. I was warned of it, but never had an issue until I had my first ride back on the motorbike. The helmet strap must have caused some sort of restriction, because my neck blew up. Not enough to cause alarm, but certainly enough to get my attention.
The body is never short on surprises is it. Hope it settles soon.
Cheers, Dave (OzMojo) 19Feb2014 Diagnosed T2N2bM0 P16+ve SCC Tonsil. 31Mar2014 2 Cisplatin, 70gy over 7 weeks (completed 16May2014) 11August2014 PET/CT clear. 17July2019 5 years NED.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Alpaca, it's funny you mention that. I have had a swollen duct (Stensen's Duct) that runs from the parotid to where I had a molar taken out. It swells up like a balloon and feels like a marble at times. This has been going on for 3 years last August. I've had scans but nothing has shown up. Also, the submental node on the opposite side has been swollen at the same time.
We believe it is because of atrophied and weak facial muscles. I just "milk" it if it bugs me and it goes down temporarily. It has gone on long enough that if I get it to go down, there is a little extra tissue.
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: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Aha, I had my first ride on a bike since treatment, Ozmojo, before the swelling happened. And yes, Uptown, it was very easy to massage the parotid swelling away. No one warned me that salivary glands can get blocked or swollen after treatment:)
1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Just stay on top of it. If the main body of the parotid or any salivary glad starts backing up, it can get very painful and cause infection. I'm not quite sure why that hasn't happened to me, yet, but I won't complain about that!
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
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