For the past year and a half, I have noticed swelling in my left submandibular salivary gland every time I eat. This seems to become more pronounced after drinking alcohol. If I massage the gland after eating, it quickly reduces in size, but I can always feel it. I sometimes have a sharp stabbing type pain in the area where the gland is (both after eating and in between meals), and recently have started feeling that pain on the right side, though there is no discernible swelling on the right side. I am extremely worried about the abnormal gland activity being related to cancer.
I first saw my GP about the swelling after eating about 15 months ago--I was sent for an Xray which showed something small. The doctor thought it was a stone, so I was sent for an ultrasound several weeks later, but everything appeared normal on the ultrasound. I went for a second ultra sound 1 month ago (approximately one year after the first ultrasound), and again, everything appeared to be normal other than a slightly enlarged lymph node (1cm diameter) but which was not large enough to be of concern.
Today I saw an ENT who was not concerned about the salivary gland swelling, however he did do a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA). The liquid that was removed appeared clear and watery--he is sending it for testing, however from what I have read, FNA is not usually a very good way of achieving a diagnosis.
Any information about these kinds of symptoms, or hearing from anyone who has had similar symptoms, would be much appreciated!!