Salivary gland cancer

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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing location of salivary glands 
Salivary glands

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Signs and symptoms of salivary gland cancer may include:

  • A lump or swelling on or near your jaw or in your neck or mouth
  • Numbness in part of your face
  • Muscle weakness on one side of your face
  • Persistent pain in the area of a salivary gland
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Trouble opening your mouth widely

When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.

Having a lump or area of swelling near your salivary gland is a common sign of a salivary gland tumor, but it doesn't mean you have cancer. Most salivary gland tumors are noncancerous (benign).

References
  1. Salivary gland cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_7x_CRC_Salivary_Gland_Cancer_PDF.asp. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
  2. Salivary gland cancer. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Salivary+Gland+Cancer. Accessed Jan. 29, 2010.
  3. Salivary gland cancer treatment (PDQ): Health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/salivarygland/healthprofessional/allpages/print. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
  4. Simental A, et al. Malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands. In: Cummings CW, et al. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/182968964-2/0/1263/0.html. Accessed Jan. 28, 2010.
  5. Quon H. Cancer of the head and neck. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1177.
  6. Head and neck cancer: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/head-and-neck. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
  7. Head and neck cancers. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/head-and-neck.pdf. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
  8. Jeannon JP, et al. Management of advanced parotid cancer: A systematic review. European Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2009;35:908.
  9. Dry mouth or xerostomia. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Treating+Cancer/Managing+Side+Effects/Dry+Mouth+or+Xerostomia. Accessed Feb. 10, 2010.
  10. Cancer-related fatigue. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/fatigue.pdf. Accessed Feb. 10, 2010.
DS00708 March 13, 2010

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