[vc_row no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”][vc_column width=”2/3″][text_output]Salivary Gland Cancer is an uncommon occurrence in the United States. About 1 in 100,000 Americans will be diagnosed with it every year. The salivary glands produce saliva that is crucial to digestion by spreading a thin layer of saliva starting in the mouth and stretching down to the stomach. Saliva helps in the chewing and physical breakdown of food before it reaches the stomach as well as lubricating the throat for easiness to swallow.

Though this gland rarely gets infected, it is important to catch the cancer at the start because salivary gland cancer has a relatively low mortality rate when caught in the early stages and still has reasonable mortality rates even in its later stages.

How do I know if I need a Parotidectomy?

Although all of these symptoms may not immediately point to cancer, there are a few easy to notice symptoms of growth in the salivary glands. There are normal, non-cancerous reasons for growth in the salivary glands, but symptoms like the following do point to the need for a check-up from your ENT doctor:

  • Noticeable difference in size between the left and right sides of the face
  • A lump or swelling in your mouth, cheek, jaw, or neck
  • Drainage from the ear
  • Numbness in the face
  • Pain in the facial area, cheek or jaw that cannot be remedied
  • Inability to open the mouth widely
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Muscular weakness on one side of the face

These are symptoms that indicate the necessity for a trip to your Ears, Nose and Throat Doctor in Arlington, Dallas or Fort Worth. Central Park ENT has a team of board certified doctors who are dedicated to finding the most efficient ways of healing your body back to its normal form.

There are other reasons for a Parotidectomy, though. Other reasons are for cancers in the lymph node as well as to treat infections in the parotid gland. Parotidectomies are not serious surgeries and require one to three days of post-operation hospitalization followed by up to one year to totally regain full facial function. Some complications after the surgery are numbness or inability to use some facial muscles normally, and should be noted to your Otolaryngologist immediately; because this could indicate nerve damage that could permanently damage your ability to use facial muscles if left untreated.

If you have felt two or more of the mentioned symptoms, it is important that you contact Central Park ENT in Arlington, Dallas or Fort Worth to get diagnosis and seek treatment for your condition. Despite the relatively low mortality rates of Salivary Gland Cancer, time is your best resource and you should utilize every second you have to assess your situation and stage of cancer if it is in fact what you may be experiencing.[/text_output][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][image type=”none” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”536″][/vc_column][/vc_row]