Scared about Parotid Gland swelling

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone

I'm a 43 yr old female with RA for the past 2 years. About 1 - 2

years ago I noticed a swelling on the left side of my neck but

failed to bring it to the attention of my doctor. I was so bogged

down with trying to cope with this crippling disease, plus numerous

serious issues going on in my personal life that I gave it very low

priority, which is totally out of character for me.

Finally a couple of weeks ago I mentioned it to my doctor and he

thinks it is my parotid salivary gland, and enquired if I had

suffered from a dry mouth which would indicate Sjogren's syndrome

which can accompany RA. I don't have a dry mouth, so he is sending

me to an ENT consultant to get it checked just in case it is a

tumour. From what I have gathered from doing research, only 20% of

tumors of the parotid gland are malignant, but it has still managed

to scare the life out of me and I am kicking myself that I didn't

get it checked sooner. Unfortunately I can't get in to see the

consultant until March, and I can't afford to go private. So in the

meantime I am out of my mind with worry and every day seems like a

week!

Is there anyone else on here who has had swelling of the Parotid

gland, and if so, what was the diagnosis?

Lindy (UK)