Oh wow. Yours  is so similar to mine. Mine was in my left submandibular gland too. I had my thyroid gland removed 7 years ago and it was about a year after that I noticed the gland was swollen. I saw my Dr and it was dismissed as a gland. I got her to check it everytime I was there which wasn't often coz I don't get sick at all really. Then October last year it was just under the skin and I tender and I started to get stabbing pains. Only about once every few days but I insisted on tests. MRI, ultrasound, another MRI with die all showed it as benign.  Then they tried to do a biopsy and hit a nerve and I nearly hit the roof. Apparently the tumour had it's own cluster of nerves. They still thought it was benign but I had surgery to remove it mid Feb. That's when it came back as ACC. I couldn't believe it. I go for my appointment with the radiotherapy specialist next Tuesday so I will find out more then I guess. All of my friends think it's all over now but I know because this cancer tends to come back that it's always going to be a monkey on my back. This treatment is hopefully going to keep it away for 20+ years so I hope it does. 1st they told me 5yrs and I am 49 which sounds old but 5 years is not long enough for me. My jaw bone is a little achy too so I hope that is ok. I am on my own with my 2 teenage kids so I have to keep it together for them.  ... View more

So how long ago was your treatment? Does the oncology dentist at Peter Mac in Melbourne look after you for your teeth? I go back to see them at the end of June.  I feel strange now because since I have finished the treatment my friends all say that's great and now I can recover and out it behind me but it's not that simple is it.  ... View more

Thank you. I will have a look now. On the upside, it's 8 days since I finished radiotherapy and I think I hit my peak 2 days ago, it's 3am and I just joined 3hours sleep for the 1st time in about a month. Hopefully I join ano t her 3 after this post. How are you going now? ... View more

Hi Jesus, I had similar to you. I had a tumor on my left salivary gland in my neck. I had that removed in Feb and tomorrow I finish 33 radiotherapy treatments. The 1st 3 weeks were ok and I noticed when in for treatment that the people having chemo looked to be suffering a lot more than me. In saying that at 3 weeks my throat, inside of cheek and back of tongue blistered and ulcers came soon after. The morphine works quite well but makes you very drowsy. These last 2 weeks and now I have really had to keep on top of the pain meds to cope. I was lucky and didn't become as fatigued as I was warned. I really played the seriousness of it in the 1st 3 weeks and wasn't great at accepting help from friends and family. My advice is to be kind to yourself. Don't put pressure on yourself to get everything done that you usually do and let your friends do things for you. Talk to the nurses and doctor when you feel pain. Rinsing your mouth regularly is invaluable. It feels better too. I thought it would drag out but really, it has gone pretty fast. Be strong but be kind to yourself. I am happy to be a support for you. As much as family and friends try to understand it's not like anything I have been through before so to talk to someone who has been there is invaluable. Be brave. Good luck. Tarsh ... View more

Hi Chris, you have my support and having almost completed nearly 7 weeks of radiotherapy I can tell you the support at the hospital has been amazing. I was never left wondering as there was always someone there to help. If that person couldn't answer my question then they got someone who could.  ... View more