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

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

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.

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.

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.

Update - on May 27, 2025, I went back for my 4-month PET CT scan to confirm there was no recurrence of salivary duct cancer. I had the biopsy and it is malignant salivary duct cancer. The polyp is .9 cm. in size. Has anyone else had the recurrence of the same cancer in a different part of the body? The nurse had told me at biopsy appointment if the polyp was cancerous they would kill it with 3 rounds of radiation or surgery.

I had just completed my second facial reanimation surgery and was ready to start life again when we got the call on the way home.

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

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.

@trainwife I can understand your distress. Appearance is a big part of who we are and these paralysis changes are tough to live with. I am currently having more facial issues which I feel to be more muscle atrophy and fibrosis from radiation. Facial exercises seem to help, as does infrared light therapy. I was just referred to a Dr. Dey at Mayo Rochester who specializes in facial reanimation and see him in June. I am not sure that is what I need but my new ENT had no suggestions. If nerve damage is part of your paralysis as mine was, give it time. Nerve tissue is very slow to heal and regenerate function. I was still improving many years later. Research Lion's Mane mushrooms for a nerve supplement. When I started taking that from RealMushrooms.com I had a definite improvement in nerve control. Tho it is hard to look in the mirror some days, your family and friends do not judge you for your appearance. It can be the new normal. Keep up your exercises and look into red light therapy. Enjoy spending time in nature as it relieves some stress. This can still improve for you, just keep looking for new options.