Parotid gland tumor. Will need surgery. Your experience at Mayo?

Posted by tinytoni @tinytoni, Jan 15 6:52pm

I have just been diagnosed with a tumor in my Parotid salivary gland. Had the ultra sound and the MRI. Waiting for my fine needle biopsy results this week. Need a doctor who is an expert in this type of surgery. Anyone able to suggest one in Rochester. I will be traveling from Michigan. Any info will help. Thanks!

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@sepdvm

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

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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.

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@trainwife

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.

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What wonderful news! I understand the tears of joy, relief, and hope that come with with that information. It still happens to me after 11 years. So sorry for the loss of your sister kitties. If only they could be with us for our lifespan. I like your method of keeping animals in your life. A loving pet sitter is a valuable commodity. With all our health-related travel I really appreciate that.

ENT at Mayo Rochester is really an amazing machine in the way that it operates. Doctors and staff all just make it happen as needed, almost magical. They truly demonstrate the Dr. Mayo quote " The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered."

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@sepdvm

Catherine, I had tumor involvement in the facial nerve so a section had to be removed. I had total right side facial paralysis when I woke up from surgery. By anastomosing the ends back together during the initial surgery, my paralysis was starting to improve with increased muscle tone 5 months after surgery. By 9 months I could really start to tell that there was improvement. Nerve tissue is very slow to heal and you need patience. It is a very slow process of regaining control of muscles that had atrophied. Then there is an issue with synkinesis where the nerves healing together are not exactly the same as it was initially. So now certain muscles have different control.....like attempting to raise the eyebrow might cause the corner of my mouth to twitch. I feel that the brain figures this out slowly and I do facial muscle exercises to help. I will never be able to raise my eyebrow but I had a plastic surgery to elevate the brow. My facial appearance will never be like before surgery, but I am amazed by little improvements I still see 12 years later. Spending time outside in cold weather makes my facial muscles very stiff and slow to respond. This is just a part of the new normal, and better than being dead from cancer. I would certainly recommend a life saving surgery even though the risk of facial paralysis is there. I won't sugar coat it, it takes some real motivation to get back to your life during facial paralysis, but knowing it is temporary and there will be gradual improvement is what has gotten me though.

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How long after surgery did you get a browlift? Did you have any other plastic surgery besides the browlift? My face is still extremely puffy and I've been getting lymphodema treatment.

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I needed to have an eyelid weight placed about 5 weeks after surgery, to enable me to close my eye during radiation treatment. The plastic surgeon offered to do the brow lift at that time as she said nerve control there would not return. I trusted her and agreed and have been satisfied, although a little brow motion is present all these years later.

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