Biopsy Results

So sorry that it turned out to be melanoma. I read your other post (didn't have anything useful to add, so I didn't comment) and was really hoping for salivary cyst or blocked gland. 

Not sure if they'll classify it as local/in transit met (stage III) or whether since it's in an organ (salivary gland) vs lymph node or subQ they'll call it a distant met (stage IV). Either way, you're probably right- you're in for some imaging (either a PET or a CT, maybe a PET since it's on your head). With any luck this is the only met you have and surgery will be just the thing. They may offer to follow up with something like Ipilimumab  or suggest looking into clinical trials (for stage III) just to be safe. What surgery and the extent of surgery will depend on what they see on the scans, which they'll need for surgical planning as well as to search the rest of your body for other mets. 

Wishing you all the best and keeping my fingers crossed for you.

-Eva

So sorry that it turned out to be melanoma. I read your other post (didn't have anything useful to add, so I didn't comment) and was really hoping for salivary cyst or blocked gland. 

Not sure if they'll classify it as local/in transit met (stage III) or whether since it's in an organ (salivary gland) vs lymph node or subQ they'll call it a distant met (stage IV). Either way, you're probably right- you're in for some imaging (either a PET or a CT, maybe a PET since it's on your head). With any luck this is the only met you have and surgery will be just the thing. They may offer to follow up with something like Ipilimumab  or suggest looking into clinical trials (for stage III) just to be safe. What surgery and the extent of surgery will depend on what they see on the scans, which they'll need for surgical planning as well as to search the rest of your body for other mets. 

Wishing you all the best and keeping my fingers crossed for you.

-Eva

So sorry that it turned out to be melanoma. I read your other post (didn't have anything useful to add, so I didn't comment) and was really hoping for salivary cyst or blocked gland. 

Not sure if they'll classify it as local/in transit met (stage III) or whether since it's in an organ (salivary gland) vs lymph node or subQ they'll call it a distant met (stage IV). Either way, you're probably right- you're in for some imaging (either a PET or a CT, maybe a PET since it's on your head). With any luck this is the only met you have and surgery will be just the thing. They may offer to follow up with something like Ipilimumab  or suggest looking into clinical trials (for stage III) just to be safe. What surgery and the extent of surgery will depend on what they see on the scans, which they'll need for surgical planning as well as to search the rest of your body for other mets. 

Wishing you all the best and keeping my fingers crossed for you.

-Eva

A CT scan will give them more definitive information about the salivary gland than a PET scan but they may do a PET as well to rule out anything else.  In my daughter's case they did only the CT.  If you are staged at III there are a few treatment options such as Interferon alone, Biochemotherapy, wait and see or a drug trial if you qualify.  Be sure to ask your surgeon about any facial nerves that may be affected during surgery.  They had to move a branch of the facial nerve during my daughters surgery and she had weakness of her lower lip which, minimally, interfered with talking and smiling but is now getting better (7 months later).

A CT scan will give them more definitive information about the salivary gland than a PET scan but they may do a PET as well to rule out anything else.  In my daughter's case they did only the CT.  If you are staged at III there are a few treatment options such as Interferon alone, Biochemotherapy, wait and see or a drug trial if you qualify.  Be sure to ask your surgeon about any facial nerves that may be affected during surgery.  They had to move a branch of the facial nerve during my daughters surgery and she had weakness of her lower lip which, minimally, interfered with talking and smiling but is now getting better (7 months later).

A CT scan will give them more definitive information about the salivary gland than a PET scan but they may do a PET as well to rule out anything else.  In my daughter's case they did only the CT.  If you are staged at III there are a few treatment options such as Interferon alone, Biochemotherapy, wait and see or a drug trial if you qualify.  Be sure to ask your surgeon about any facial nerves that may be affected during surgery.  They had to move a branch of the facial nerve during my daughters surgery and she had weakness of her lower lip which, minimally, interfered with talking and smiling but is now getting better (7 months later).