A lump in the mouth? Let's learn about salivary gland cancer in simple terms.

Have you ever noticed something like a small lump inside your mouth, on your cheek, or under your jaw? It may not even hurt at first. Most of the time, we don't pay much attention to things like this, thinking, "It's probably just a lump, it'll get better on its own." However, sometimes even something as small as this can be the beginning of something we need to be concerned about. Today we're going to talk about something like this. That's cancer that occurs in the salivary glands, that is, Salivary Gland Cancer . Don't worry, we'll talk about everything simply and clearly.

First, let's see, what are these salivary glands?

Simply put, salivary glands are glands in our mouth and throat that produce saliva. When we eat, it is this saliva that helps start the digestive process. Saliva is also essential for keeping the mouth moist, speaking, and swallowing food.

There are three main types of salivary glands in our mouth.

• Parotid glands: These are the largest salivary glands. They are located inside the cheeks, in front of the ears.
• Submandibular glands: These are located under our jawbone.
• Sublingual glands: These are located under the tongue, at the bottom of the mouth.

In addition to these major glands, there are hundreds of smaller salivary glands, too small to be seen by the naked eye, in the roof of our mouth, inside our lips, inside our cheeks, on our tongue, in our nose, and even in our throat.

So, salivary gland cancer is a cancerous condition that occurs in any of the salivary glands that we just talked about. There can be two types of these tumors. Some are non-cancerous (benign) tumors. The other type is cancerous (malignant) tumors. We are talking mostly about these cancerous tumors today.

Is this cancer common?

No. In fact, salivary gland cancer is a very rare type of cancer. It accounts for a very small percentage, about 1%, of all head and neck cancers.

Among these, the two most common types are `(mucoepidermoid carcinoma)` and `(adenoid cystic carcinoma)`. These two types account for half of all cancers that develop in the salivary glands.

Most of these tumors, both cancerous and noncancerous, start in the parotid glands, which are located inside the cheeks. However, if tumors develop in the minor salivary glands, they are more likely to be cancerous.

Who is at higher risk of developing this cancer?

Although this condition can develop in anyone, some people are at higher risk. Men are slightly more likely to develop cancerous tumors than women.

Other risk factors are:

• Being over 55 years of age: As you age, the risk of this cancer increases, as do many other diseases.
• Smoking and alcohol use: It's nothing new that smoking and heavy alcohol use contribute to many cancers. So it applies to this one too.
• Having received radiation therapy to the head or neck: If you have received radiation therapy to the head or neck for another condition, especially another cancer, your risk of developing salivary gland cancer in the future may be increased.
• Certain occupations: Research has found that people who work in plumbing, rubber manufacturing, asbestos mining, and leather manufacturing may have a slightly increased risk of this cancer. This may be due to the chemicals they are exposed to.

In addition, there is a belief that some rare types of salivary gland cancer are more common in people with certain viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). However, this does not mean that these viruses cause the cancer. Research into this connection is still ongoing.

What are the symptoms of this cancer?

Often, the main and first symptom of salivary gland cancer is a painless lump in the mouth, cheek, under the jaw, or neck. This is the first thing most people notice.

However, not all lumps are cancerous. However, if it is cancerous, other symptoms may appear over time. You should be especially aware of this.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

When you see a doctor, the first thing he or she will do is ask you about your symptoms and then do a physical exam. He or she will feel the lumps inside your mouth, on your neck, and under your jaw. He or she will also check the function of your facial nerves.

After that, it is recommended to do several more tests to confirm the diagnosis.

• CT Scan: This uses X-rays to produce clear images of tumors inside the salivary glands. It can determine the size and location of the tumor, as well as whether the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other areas, such as the lungs or bones.
• MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This uses magnets and radio waves to take very clear pictures of the inside of the body. MRI is especially important to see if the cancer has spread to soft tissues such as muscles, blood vessels, and nerves.
• PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography): This uses a small amount of radioactive material to identify where cancer cells are located. This helps determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other distant parts of the body.
• Biopsy: This is the only way to be 100% sure whether it is cancer or not. This involves taking a very small piece of tissue or fluid from the lump with a needle and examining it under a microscope in a laboratory. This will tell you exactly whether it contains cancer cells or not.

What are the treatments for this?

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor will determine the most appropriate treatment for you. This will depend on factors such as the type of tumor, its size, whether it has spread, and your overall health.

Usually, the main treatment is to remove the tumor through surgery.

New treatments

In addition to these main treatments, your doctor may also talk about several new treatments that are still in the research stage.

• Immunotherapy: Giving drugs that help our own body's immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
• Targeted Therapy: Using drugs that target and attack a specific weakness in cancer cells.
• Radiosensitizers: Drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. These are given together with radiation therapy.

Can this cancer be completely cured?

Yes. In most cases, salivary gland cancer can be completely cured if detected early and treated properly . Your prognosis depends on several factors.

• How big is the tumor?
• Has the cancer spread to other places?
• Which salivary gland is the cancer in?
• The nature of the cancer cells (how aggressive they are)
• Your overall health status

For example, if the cancer is confined to the salivary gland, the 5-year survival rate is as high as 94%. However, if the cancer has spread, that rate decreases.

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