My problems started when I was getting frequent and serious migraines and I also 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.
My surgery happened on Jan 4, 2008, I was hoping and confident that my tumor was benign. However, at the time I was 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 would go on to live a healthy, happy life.
Now...why the blog? Well, once I found out that yes I did 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.
I am also writing this 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. I will be adding lots more to this blog in regards to a variety of cancers. By the way, yes my tumor was benign and it was one of the happiest days of my life when I received the confirmation! If you have comments or questions, please feel free.... Remember, you are not alone.....
