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Parotid Tumor

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PAROTID TUMOR INFORMATION

A few months ago I started to get some serious migraines and felt as if I had a terrible ear ache.  I went to multiple doctors and was given four rounds of amoxicillan to no avail.  I kept telling my doctors that I was not feeling well and just did not feel "right".  It was also during this time that I began to physically feel a type of lump behind my jaw underneath my ear.

Still even after telling three DIFFERENT doctors that I felt a lump of some sort, it was as if they did not believe me-one doctor even told me that he thought I probably just pulled a neck muscle.  However, I knew something was wrong and just kept pushing and pushing my primary doctor for answers, after four CT scans and three MRI's, a tumor was found in the tail of my parotid gland.

Believe me when I tell you that I am giving the short version of this story, it is unbelievable to me thinking about what I had to go through to finally get medical confirmation that "yes" I was not crazy and that I was correct in my feeling that something was not "right" with me.

I am now scheduled for surgery on Jan 4, 2008, I am hoping and am confident that my tumor will be benign.  However, I have resolved to the fact that it may be malignant, although even with a malignancy there is a very high probability that it will be resolved and that I will go on to live a healthy, happy life.

Now...why the lense? Well, once I found out that yes I do have a parotid tumor I immediately went to the internet trying to find out anything and everything I could about parotid tumors.  There is  a lot of information but it is scattered and time consuming to find. 

 So what was my next step?  I of course searched for domain names related to parotid tumors, bought two of the names available, put in the key words related to parotid tumors and vio'la..... related resources popped up on one page. 

I am also writing this lense because I know how stressful the uncertainity is and if you suddenly have been presented with this diversion in the road (so to speak), please do NOT feel alone because you definitely are not!

I am no expert on parotid tumors but I have done a lot of research and I have first hand experience with it so if you have questions, feel free to pose them..if I can't answer it, I am sure there is someone else out there that can! 

If you just need emotional/moral support, I definitely can give that and would be happy to help. My websites have lots of related links to parotid tumors so feel free to take a look: www.parotidtumor.org and www.parotidtumor.info

I will be adding more to this lense and will give a future update on my surgery.  If you have comments or questions, please feel free....

Remember, you are not alone.....

 


If you do leave a comment and/or would like me to respond (and I am happy to do that) PLEASE give your e-mail so I can respond!

TUMOR and CANCER INFORMATION BLOG

Please feel free to comment and/or share on the blog!

http://tumorcancer.blogspot.com

UPDATE** 01-07-08

I made it through surgery! I was released the day after(on Saturday) and I am very glad to be home. My surgeon said there was a tumor in the tail of my parotid gland and he removed it and sent it off to get tested..I have an appointment in his office on January 14 so he said we will have the results by then and talk about it.
However, what came as a surprise to me was that my surgeon also said that my parotid gland and quite a bit of tissue along my jawline had chronic infection.
He said he also took out the infected tissue and some lymph nodes that were also infected. Although I am never happy to hear that I had an infection, it was somewhat of a relief now knowing this information as I was having continual pain and feeling sick all the time before the surgery and now I understand why!
At least now I know I am not a big baby or imagining things! :)
Considering that I just had surgery, my face is only slighty swollen, the incision will not be too noticable as my surgeon did it right along my ear and my neckline, it really is amazing...surgery is definitely an art. My family and I are both shocked at how well my surgeon did on the incision!
My biggest drawback right now is being tired..I will do something for a little bit and then need a break so.....a break is now needed. However, thanks to all for your kind e-mails. I will definitely write more as soon as I am feeling a bit better. Take care.

BENIGN! YEAH FOR BENIGN!

Well everything came back benign! I was sitting in the room waiting for the doctor to come in, he walks in and says, "Did they call you about the pathology report?" For that split second, my heart dropped. I said, "no". He said, "Well everything came back benign."
MUSIC TO MY EARS!
My doctor said that he actually ended up taking more of the parotid gland than he originally thought he would have to. He said he had to take about 80% of my parotid gland and because he did not want the side of my face to sink or cave in, he pulled the remaining parotid gland over and stitched it to my ear canal. I know...gross!
He said my gland was just "withered" and had to be taken out, he also mentioned that the infection was pretty severe along my jawline and he also had to take out a few lymph nodes, one node was especially infected.
It has now been about 3 weeks, my incision is healing and really I have only slight discomfort inside. However, now finding out everything the surgeon did, it is not surprising that I still have some slight discomfort.
Parts of my ear and a bit of the side of my face are still "numb", it is a strange thing to explain...I guess the best comparison is like when you go to the dentist and get a cavity filled and your mouth is numbed..the way my ear and side of my face feel right now is almost the same sensation.
Again, my doctor said the numbness is completely normal and it could take up to a year for the feeling to come back. However, I am just glad my mouth, eyes etc are all okay and were not affected because I was told by my doctor numerous times that the nerves around my mouth and/or eyes could be affected temporarily.
Anyway, everything is good. I could not be happier and I am on the road to recovery. I will keep making posts as to my updates. Again, if you are going through the same thing or similiar thing and need to talk, please contact me. I am here!

PAROTID TUMOR READING RESOURCES

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POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF PAROTID TUMORS

*difficulty with speaking, eating, swallowing

*swelling in the face area

*mass or some type of lump in the mouth and/or neck

*pain in the side of the face and/or jaw

EXCELLENT MAGAZINES DEALING WITH HEALTH and CANCER

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GLAND RESOURCES

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My Surgeon's Information

I have had quite a few people e-mailing me asking who my surgeon was. His name is Dr. Chad Zender from the Chicago, IL area. He is an amazing surgeon and did an incredible job on my parotid surgery and also my incision..it is hardly noticable plus he is a very caring doctor!!! Here is a direct link to his information: http://www.meddean.luc.edu/depts/otolaryn/faculty/zender.htm

Reader Feedback

  • Rose May 29, 2012 @ 12:52 pm | delete
    ok...THANK GOD I FOUND YOU ONLINE! READING YOUR STORY HAS BEEN HELPFULL AND I AM HOPING YOU WILL HAVE SOME FEEDBACK TO MY SITUATION. I am a 25 year old single stay at home mom with two small children. In dec of 2010 I found a pea size lump under my earlobe. my doctor did a ct scan and said it was a tumor. He refered me to Iowa City to see a ent. I had to wait a month for the appointment. Within the month, the lump dissapeared and I couldnt feel it anymore. My doctor still advised me to go to Iowa city. When I went to Iowa city, the doctor felt the area...said he didnt feel it...and sent me home saying "It must have dissapeared". That being said, It is now May of 2012. I went to the Dentist on Thursday, and he did an x ray of my teeth. He found what looks to be the tumor. He said to get in contact with my physican, but I have since moved so my physician now is not aware of any of this and I have to start all over. I am very upset that the Iowa city doctor didnt follow up with another ct scan and biopsy back in 2010. This thing has been in me for 2 years now, and who knows if it is cancerous or not :( I am so scared and the doctors are taking forever to get me seen and get a referal. I dont understand any of this. Do Parotid tumers shrink? Is that what could have happened? I am so scared and confussed :( Any input would be greatly appreciated!
  • Kathy (Ohio) May 30, 2012 @ 1:28 pm | delete
    Yes, I understand....Most generally these paratoid tumors are not cancerous, but on the other hand a few are...Mine was growing for a few years before I ever really noticed it..because it was growing inward and some days I could really feel it if I touched it, other days it felt smaller, so at 1st I thought it was my lymph nodes...anyway don't know why it did that. I had a CT scan at first but that doesn't show the detail like an MRI --that is what my 2nd Dr prescribed. My tumor grew to be the size of a large plum by the time it was taken out. Never really noticed it under my ear cause it grew inward.
    Any questions I recommend calling Dr Osborne 310-657-0123
  • Emma May 4, 2012 @ 6:33 pm | delete
    Its nice to hear that I'm not the only one! I'm in the uk and I have been to see my GP numerous times over the past 5/6 years, I've had and MRI, two ultrasounds and a needle biopsy, I've seen an ENT 'specialist' and even after all these tests he 'can't feel anything' I know that something's not right. I'm going back for another ultrasound in a couple of months and if he says there's nothing there again I'm going to go find a second opinion!
  • Kathy Apr 2, 2012 @ 5:54 pm | delete
    I too had paratoid surgery 2 yrs ago now. I am not having any issues at all.
    It was benign. I had a dr osborne from LA do my surgery. He is a world renowned surgeon for Paratoid surgery. Please check out his website and give them a call. The Doctors and entire staff were wonderful and a godsend to me.
    I hope this helps you.
    osborneparotid@yahoo.com 310-657-0123
  • Jerilyn Apr 2, 2012 @ 4:57 pm | delete
    I had a benign parotid tumor removed July 6, 2011, over eight months ago. My doctors did a flap from my neck muscle to fill in the gap from the removal of the parotid tumor. I feel blessed that it was not cancer. I was so grateful that I could smile after the surgery so I knew I was not paralyzed. I did not get Fry's Syndrome and sweat every time I ate! I knew I should be grateful but I have continued to have painful complications. Once the drain was removed after two days, I would drain from the parotid tumor every time I ate. It could have been a great diet. After about seven to eight weeks, the incision closed and I no longer was draining outwardly. However, every time I ate I began to swell in the ear, neck, and face area. The swelling and pain increased throughout the day and by the early afternoon my mobility to turn my head was so limited. I have gone to my surgeon and to so many doctors and no one knows what to do. I am so frustrated at this point in time. Has anyone had the same thing happen to you? What have you done to correct the problem? Has any doctor been able to give you the magic answer? I am just hoping that someone else has had a similar complication so that I can learn what to do to change my situation. It is not something I want to live with forever.
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Shellonline

Hello fellow Squidoos!
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