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Parotid gland tumor. Will need surgery. Your experience at Mayo?
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 9 hours ago | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
Never smoked, only second hand smoke as a child from my dad smoking at home. He died of oral SCC in 1993. As a veterinarian I have had more than average radiation exposure from restraining animals for xrays so I consider that a predisposing factor, as well as the genetic component.
That's wonderful that you are seeing improvement! Be patient and know that it will continue to improve for years. How did your recent scans go? (fingers crossed for good report)
Sue
Replies to "Never smoked, only second hand smoke as a child from my dad smoking at home. He..."
It has been over 2 years since we last messaged. I hope you are doing well. I had a setback on June 2, 2025. My scan of May 27, 2025, showed a malignant nodule on the tip of my lung (the same cancer). I had a lung resection on July 1, 2025, at Mayo. Since then, I have had a few more surgeries on my face, focusing on the lips and smile. I am losing hope, I will never smile again. I go to speech therapy and do daily facial exercises, and still talk out of one side of my mouth. The top right of my lip does not move. My quality of life is not good. I am lucky that my husband has stood by my side, although marriage is difficult. I see a counselor every other week, but I am still my own worst enemy. When I hear of stories like yours, 12 years is a long time. No one ever told me before my surgery that I would never smile again. I miss my old self.
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Thank you for replying Sue. The oncologist informed me that my scans were exceptionally clean, with no signs of cancer anywhere. It was quite emotional for me. He said all my organs are working and numbers are all normal. I go back every 3 months for scans the first year and then less as the years go by. I'm so grateful to the doctors at Mayo and their robust scheduling department.
By the way, I adore animals. After losing my cats (16 years they were sisters), I realized that I couldn't go through that pain again. I enjoy dogsitting now.