Parotid gland swelling

[dantetheinferno1]

I understand there are lymph nodes in the parotid gland. One of mine is swollen, making me look like a chipmunk . Is there anything you can do about swollen glands?

[Newdawn Administrator]

I’d check with your doctor that it’s not due to infection. I had a similar thing and needed antibiotics. Is there any pain or discomfort in the area?

Newdawn

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Newdawn]

More like a feeling of fullness, not pain per se. thank you.

[Jemorgen]

I had a swollen and painful parotid gland several years ago - long before I was diagnosed but I could conceivably had CLL/SLL at the time. I found it helpful to use damp heat. But Newdawn is right. Confirm it isn’t an infection first.

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Jemorgen]

Thank you.

[livinglifewell in reply to Jemorgen]

I agree with Dan, moist heat compresses, the gland could be blocked.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Could be Warfin's tumor--a benign cyst that forms by infiltrating lymphocytes.

youtube.com/watch?v=IKG8McD...(Not working as expected?)

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to cllady01]

Thank you. I guess I’ll make an appt with the ENT...

[LovecuresCLL]

Yes make an appointment with an ENT . Both sides? They can put a tiny needle in it right at the office to see if it’s an intraparotid lymph node or a parotid gland tumor (most are BENIGN Warthin’s or an adenoma) and easily taken care of. Because you have CLL, your lymph node theory is probably correct. Or it’s sialadenitis which is inflammation of the salivary gland mimicking a bump. Again very treatable with antibiotics possibly. Also if it’s a cyst, they can drain it. But if it’s both sides?, it is probably not a tumor but rather just sialadenitis which is easy to treat.

Mumps used to cause salivary gland enlargement but you got a vaccine for that as a kid and you would have a fever. So it’s probably not that.

I hope it gets better. And I have you questions for the doctor when you see her.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help,

-John

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to LovecuresCLL]

Thank you.

[dantetheinferno1]

Yes

[Alex15alex]

Just to let you know i had this last month

The swelling came up in one day not painful unless touched. Saw my GP straight away, he prescribed amoxicillin

And said it would go in a week. Glad to say that it did go away in a week.

Alex

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Alex15alex]

Thank you

[Jm954 Administrator]

Hi,

sometimes parotid glands can get little stones which block the flow of saliva from the gland and this causes swelling. If that's the cause, then massaging the gland can move the stone and release the saliva, so the swelling will go down. It may recur though.

Jackie

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Jm954]

Thank you

[Alex15alex in reply to Jm954]

Yes my doctor told me that.

After a couple of days on antibiotic i was able to massage the gland, that seemed to help it disperse the lump.

[Lenny123]

Have had this, recurrently, Parotitis, usually, warm soaks, tons of water, and it goes in a few days.

certainly have evaluation if it persists for say more than a week.

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Lenny123]

Thank you

[Lily_Pad_Master]

Hi. Just to confirm, do you have a diagnosis of CLL? The two symptoms the precipitated my eventual CLL diagnosis were first, a swollen lymph node on my right neck then, fairly soon affect, a gradually increasing swelling in my right parotid. The increasing size of the parotid caused discomfort, which, along with the persistence of the neck node, was the motivating factor behind my search for answers. The fluid in my parotid was accessed via fine needle aspiration, and it was there that the first abnormal cells were found. Word to the wise: Do not accept fine needle aspiration of the parotid unless under ultrasound guidance. It’s painful, and when they’re not on target, as my butcher of an initial doctor wasn’t, they just keep stabbing away until they get what they want. Barbaric.

After that, I needed to have my parotid drained twice (under guidance) at my selected location for care, The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Nodes pass through the parotid, hence the accumulation of lymphatic fluid there.

Glenn

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Lily_Pad_Master]

Yes, I have CLL. Had chemo B &R for 6 months Oct - March. Now just R every 90 days - apparently not working 😢

[Lily_Pad_Master in reply to dantetheinferno1]

I'm sorry to hear. Things can wax and wane, as I'm sure you know. You see a CLL specialist?

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Lily_Pad_Master]

Yes. I go to Johns Hopkins

[Buffy-1]

My husband just went thru this. The doctor said it could be a stone. He said to suck on a lemon drop or something sour. Also our son, non cll, gets this and he sucks on a lemon. It cleared up in 2 days. Best of luck.

[Ironj]

On my right jawline I get a swelling in my parotid gland about every 3 months. My ent told me to rub it ( massage) the area for about 5 min or so and it does go away. My oncologist told me he also get the same thing and it very common. I would have it check before assuming it’s lust a blocked gland.

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Ironj]

Thank you.

[Time17]

I have just my parotid gland removed. The operation was quite complicated due to the size of the lump and fact that it was attached to nerves in my head. It was a persistent lump that was continuing to grow while most of my CLL has been reducing in other parts of my body due to my treatment of O and V. My haematologist had another PET scan done and it showed up brightly. A fine needle biopsy was inconclusive and but a core biopsy showed stains for possible large cell lymphoma. So it has been removed for further biopsies. My advice is to find out early through a biopsy as to what it could be. Don't let it just continue to grow. Most often these things are benign tumours or inflamed nodes as mentioned earlier but they can be CLL or other malignant tumours. Best wishes.

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to Time17]

Time17,

You've given some good advice there from your own experience.

I've read you extensive profile (thank you for that) and I'm sorry that you are now facing this new, unwelcome challenge.

I have no answers for you but your team sounds excellent and trying to keep ahead of this c-myc mutation for you. If this is another DLBCL then take heart, you have dealt with this once and can do it again.

Sending you my heartfelt best wishes, please let us know how your treatment is going.

Jackie

[dantetheinferno1 in reply to Time17]

Thank you