Hi, my elderly mother is suspected of having oral cancer. Her GP found a lump on her salvia gland that is very painful for her. Unfortunately, she also has ear pain so if it is cancer it sounds like it may have spread already. The lump was found after her "ear infection and refered mouth pain" did not respond to several antibiotics. My mom is not a candidate for surgery with anethesia but I wondered if surgery to remove a mouth lump is ever done under a local anethesia, like when you go to the dentist?

See a ENT immediately....
Darrell

She is, but he won't say anything until she has an ultrasound to determine if a biopsy is necessary. My mom has COPD and is on 24hr oxygen and is not a candidate for general surgery. I've learnt to do my research and be persistent with drs. If he says there's nothing he can do I want to know if he's right or if I should be asking for a procedure.