Salivary Gland Cancer

You have three major pairs of salivary glands —sublingual (under your tongue), submandibular (below your jawbone) and parotid (inside each cheek). They make the spit (saliva) that helps your body start breaking down food.

Salivary gland cancer usually starts as a painless bump in your mouth, cheek or neck — often in your parotid glands. But it can also show up in minor salivary glands in your mouth, the lining of your tongue, throat, roof of your mouth and lips, as well as inside your cheeks, sinuses, voice box and nose. Untreated, these tumors can spread (metastasize) to your lymph nodes, bones, lungs and liver.

You might not have any symptoms. Or you may notice weakness, pain or numbness in your face or neck as the tumor grows. You might also have trouble opening your mouth or swallowing. And your mouth may bleed.

Before you start treatment, our experienced head and neck team will find out what type of tumor it is, where it is and how far the cancer has progressed (its stage).  

What to expect at your first visit

Your story is an important part of diagnosis, so don’t be surprised if your provider first asks you to talk about what’s been happening. They’ll ask questions like:

• Why did you schedule this appointment?
• What symptoms are you having?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with cancer in the past?
• Do you have any other health conditions?
• Have any family members ever had cancer?

Your provider will also do a physical exam to learn about your overall health — and look for signs of salivary gland cancer. This includes checking for lumps in your salivary glands and seeing how nerves in your face respond to different things. You’ll also have other tests to confirm a diagnosis.

Testing for salivary gland cancer

Imaging tests can help us see where the tumor is, how large it is and if it’s spread. You might have:

• An MRI.
• A CT scan.
• A PET scan.

We’ll also take a small tissue sample (biopsy) from the tumor and send it to our lab. Our expert pathologists will look at the cells under a microscope to learn more about what kind of cancer it is. They may also test these cells to see how they respond to certain medications. This helps us create your personalized treatment plan.

Second opinions for salivary cancer

A cancer diagnosis can be a real shock and leave you wondering what’s next. It’s important that you feel confident with your care team — and find one that listens to your concerns, answers your questions and provides the best possible care. That’s why we encourage second opinions.

Our experienced head and neck cancer team is here to give you the answers you need and guide you through the decisions you need to make. And we know that cancer doesn’t wait, so we try to schedule your appointment as soon as possible. A second opinion can give you peace of mind, knowing that you’re in the most capable, compassionate hands.

Meet Our Salivary Gland Cancer Team

At Cleveland Clinic, we believe in a team-based approach to care. This means you’ll have a group of providers from different specialties — all chosen based on your unique diagnosis and needs. Your team provides highly personalized treatment that focuses on your long-term quality of life. Your care team may include:

• Otolaryngologists.
• Oncologists.
• Radiologists.
• Reconstructive surgeons.
• Maxillofacial surgeons.
• Restorative dentists.
• Pathologists.
• Speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
• Dietitians.

Once we have your test results and confirm a diagnosis, we’ll work with you to build your treatment plan. We base your plan on many factors — like how big the tumor is, where it’s located and its stage, as well as your age, lifestyle and treatment goals. We also consider the options that will least affect how your mouth and face work and how you look after surgery. You may have a combination of different treatments, like:

Surgery

Surgery is the best way to treat salivary gland cancer if the tumor can be safely removed. Our head and neck surgeons remove cancer from every part of your face, mouth and throat. Our reconstructive surgeons work closely with our head and neck team to do advanced skin grafts, nerve grafts and facial reconstruction, if needed.

Radiation therapy

Our team may recommend radiation therapy which uses high-energy beams if the cancer has spread and can’t be removed with surgery. Radiation can also destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery and help relieve cancer symptoms.

Systemic therapy

Certain medications can target the tumor’s cells and stop it from growing or spreading. We decide what to use based on the cancer type and stage and your unique needs. Often, we combine medications with surgery and/or radiation for the best results. Our specialists may prescribe:

• Chemotherapy to kill fast-growing cells throughout your body, including tumor cells.
• Targeted therapy, which attacks substances that help the tumor grow and spread.
• Immunotherapy, which uses your immune system to destroy cancer cells.
• Radiosensitizers, which make cancer cells respond better to radiation.

Taking the Next Step

Learning you may have salivary gland cancer can be difficult. But when you find a lump in your mouth, cheek or neck, it’s important to get things checked out quickly. This cancer can be highly treatable when caught early. And Cleveland Clinic’s here to help you take the next step. Our caring specialists offer the latest in salivary cancer diagnosis and treatment to make sure you get the best results possible.