What were your early symptoms before diagnosed with a Parotid Tumor?

Mayo Scottsdale is the most amazing and you are in excellent hands! I had HPVSCC and Dr Entazami did my surgery. He is wonderful! His team is wonderful. Mayo gave me options and after months and months of missed diagnosis- I found my angels at Mayo. I had a tumor on my carotid artery and had it removed locally. Once they biopsy the tumor- they couldn’t tell me where the cancer came from and wanted to do chemo and radiation- on a cancer they couldn’t tell not find. Take a deep breath and do NOT rush into anything. TORS surgery and a double neck dissection was performed. Was it fun….no but I am 5 months out and recovering and my team made sure I had everything I needed. I am so happy with my decision. Not for everyone but Mayo will listen to all of your concerns. You can do this. Stay strong in your beliefs. Jesus holds my hand everyday.

Keep us posted, please! I got a tooth pulled, which resulted in my lip drooping. THEN I knew something was wrong. At first, I had a pea-sized lump just behind my ear. It did not hurt.

Update, I have been rescheduled to February 5th so my imaging and biopsy can be done the same day as the consultation. I'm monitoring it closely and the Dr said to reach out if I see any significant changes in the meantime. A little stressed but hanging in there. Happy New Year y'all!

@katsviolin
I had the exact same experience with a parotid gland tumor in 1993. Because I had Sjogrens Syndrome and other autoimmune illness, my PCP told me it was a swollen lymph node. It turns out I had a swollen lymph node IN my parotid gland because it was cancer! I don't know when you went through this, but let's say nothing much has changed in 30 years? You write "she always dismissed it" and that's key.

@katsviolin Thank you for the information. I'm sorry you had to go through that. I will look into the alternate treatment.

Sounds much like my experience! Brought small lump behind right ear to my primary care physicians attention 3 years in a row. She always dismissed it as inflammation until the last visit I told her I had another lump starting behind the left ear and the right ear lump seemed larger.
CT scan ordered (with contrast) and results were bilateral parotid tumors.
Unfortunately, in researching treatment for such tumors, much depends on the type of tumor. From the scan Dr thinks mine are Warthin tumors which are usually benign. While major surgery for all parotid tumors is recommended, there is also evidence that radio frequency ablation can shrink tumors. This in my opinion is much less invasive.

@jw9 Thank you for sharing! Yes, I started with the AI rabbit hole and have done a lot of cancer research since. I will most definitely have the surgery whether benign or not. I have cancer history in my family on both sides but no parotid gland cancer. I am confident Mayo and Dr Hayden will be thorough and swift if need be. I have recently gotten a small bump (pimple like) but it does not come to the surface and it's on the same side as the lump on my cheek as well. It does not go away so that will be addressed also. I am a bit anxious for my appointment but ready. I will definitely follow up here with the results, proposed treatment and schedule.

@jules26
Your post is fascinating to me because you just described what I went through with a parotid gland tumor. Yes to starting at pea size, yes to getting harder over the years. But I waited 5 years not 10. I also had to wait until I had medical insurance. I had a gut feeling about "the lump" as I called it, when it hardened. I knew it was cancer.

I want to tell you that I had a slow growing cancer, cell type was acinic cell carcinoma. I had a parotidectomy and then they found it had spread onto the side of my face so it was just in time. But because that is Stage II, I went through radiation treatments. This was 30 years ago. The cancer has been in remission.

I worked as an RN in oncology when I got sick. I need to tell you to "research" the 10 Warning Signs of Cancer.
You cannot "ask AI" while you have been living with a lump (a warning sign of cancer) for 10 years. It might help you make priorities around your health if I could tell you that it was much more stressful going through those parotid gland tumor symptoms, than it was to actually go to an ENT surgeon. He touched the gland and told me, I believe you have a tumor. Surgery was scheduled.

I went to Stanford Medical Center with a good doctor who I trusted. Before I saw him another doctor sent me for a biopsy. What I learned at Stanford is the parotid gland is a complex gland and cannot be biopsied! accurately. If a doctor tells you that you need surgery, at this point I really encourage you to listen.

I hope you check back here after January 6th! You can pm me here is you want to.

@gangcarotid1 Thank you very much!

I am sure it is the same dept at Mayo. Fiona was pleased w her outcome. Wishibg the same for you, my friend. 🙂