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Waiting for cancer operation to remove parotoid gland - has anyone had the same?

Jacied
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Hello everyone 

I have been diagnosed with stage 2 cancer in my parotoid gland which means they will have to remove my facial nerves which will leave me with facial paralysis so am really worried about outcome of this surgery, has anyone out there experienced same ?

  • Hi Jacied

    I had a parotid gland, some minor salivary glands and lymphs in my neck removed about 11 years ago, followed by radiotherapy to the area. The cancer was squamous cell  carcinoma.

    The surgeons team will take great care to preserve your facial nerve, by locating the nerve and its branches, hours are spent doing this and it will be left largely intact if the cancer is not too advanced. In my case I did have temporary partial paralysis of my face on one side. I had a numb face, a drooping lip could not smile or open my mouth fully or speak properly. Post operation I saw a speech therapist who showed me mouth, throat and jaw excercises to do 10x each day. Which I followed meticulously. It took around 6 months to be fully recovered and I have had no problems since. Another complication is dry mouth from lack of saliva, buy a water bottle and carry it around with you along with a small spray bottle filled with water to freshen your mouth. I added a single drop of pure orange oil to the spray water. You can buy it in the cake baking sections of supermarkets. It is expensive but the tiny bottle will last a long time as it is so concentrated. I wish you a successful operation and cancer free future.

    Ed

  • Offline in reply to Farmer_Ed

    Thank you so much Ed for your reply it has helped me more than you know to accept things will improve. Can i ask you - Can you smile now? As my greatest asset is my smile 

  • in reply to Jacied

    Hi Jacied

    You will be pleased to know I can smile perfectly and drink and eat properly.

    You may not get anything more than a temporary numb face from bruising. It is a last resort that they will remove any of your facial nerve. I had a radical neck dissection to remove the parotid lymph nodes and other salivary glands. The cut was along a natural crease in my neck and is invisible now.  You will be fine, so don't worry. (Easier said than done)

    Ed

  • Offline in reply to Farmer_Ed

    Thank you Ed did reply once but dont know if it went so making sure this goes to Thank you again for your support , its made a world of difference to my thinking and knowing theres light at the end of the tunnel. Thank God for people like you x

  • in reply to Jacied

    Hi Jacied

    I declined your friend request as it is good for others to gain info from conversations on cancer chat. It is also good to keep everything in the open for security.

    I notice from your new thread that you've been told that your operation will include removing your facial nerve. This would leave you with a drooping face (palsy) no smile, dribbling food and drink from your lips, a speech impediment amongst other problems. This is likely to be permanent.

    However just how much of your nerve will need to be removed if any is not known for sure until the area is exposed, the surgeon will then try to spare as much of the nerve as possible. In my case it was decided to remove as much cancer as possible leaving the nerve intact. The remaining cancer cells were treated successfully with radiotherapy.

    I would strongly advise that you have this conversation when you meet with the surgeon prior to surgery. Take someone with you. Write down all the questions you want to ask, or you will forget and get that person to write down all the answers. It is your body and you do have a choice in what you wish to gain from the procedure. I'm wishing for the best possible outcome for you.

    Im happy to answer any questions you may have, if you post on them this thread.

    Ed

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