I have a movable, rubbery, FLAT smaller than a pea (1/2 pea) sized lump in (upper) front of my right ear and right on the area where you feel your jaw open when opening mouth wide. It cannot be 'seen' and cannot be felt when mouth is wide open. No pain or change in size for at least 20 years. I found it years ago when massaging a sore jaw joint. It sort of feels like it's in a tendon and in front of the Tragus. No heat, not tender, no symptoms.
Preauricular lymph node? Remained the same size for all these years?
From birth to age 54 I had constant ear infections. Treatment when I was a small child was rupturing the ear drum. Last ear infection was 10 years ago. (Stopped using anti histamines)
I have TMJ(D), use a night guard and actually broke 2 teeth loose from the bone about 6 years ago when I fell asleep during the Superbowl and wasn't wearing my mouthguard.
I have had NUMEROUS PET/CT's over the last 5 years for colon cancer and they were top of head to mid thigh and my oncologist specializes in head/ neck cancer so I'm sure he would have pointed out a problem.
I also had a full mouth x rays this summer, 3D xrays from under the jaw (when I convinced myself I had a clogged gland), bite wing and Panoramic X-rays. Last dental exam was in December. CBC, SMA, CEA all excellent.
Saw a crawler on the side of an anxiety forum page that said this particular gland was a sign of leukemia! Now I'm scared and with our new insurance, it's $120 to ask my Primary one question! I've had horrible HA since a liver resection in April 2012. Please answer.
Also as you are able to move it about, it is likely to be a small lump of fat, that we can get anywhere on the body. Should it start to get bigger and cause you discomfort, then you would need to seek medical attention and advice.
If you had leukemia, you would have more symptoms and would generally fell very ill and tired. It would have also been picked up on blood tests.
Best wishes.