So i was brushing my teeth about 3 weeks ago and notcied a LUMPnext to my jaw line. The lump is IN BETWEEN A TENNIS BALL AND ping pong ball - . Very noticable ,and embarrassing. I went to the doctor, he took an x ray of the chest to make sure if it was cancer i guess to see if it spread into my other nodes. Negative. The Doc Did not give me much information. Told me to come back if it didnt subside. He suspected t hat it was an enlarged lymph node -NO SH@# I am very frustrated, have an appointment with him in a week. Could this be somehting serious. Why could i possibly have this? I have a feeling he will put me on antibiotics, and i am relucattant to take them due to their effects and my belief that they wont do anything. By the way the lump does not hurt. The lump came up over night, i have not been sick, eat a healthy diet. I am so frustrated with the whole situation - PLZ HELP

Tomcat- yes, could be an enlarged lymph node--they do come and go, sometimes quickly...and if he gives you antibiotics, take them. He probably felt it and based on it's location and how it felt-it's more likely an enlarged node. They can take a while to go back down. If you're not comfortable w/this dr-go see an ENT now-even if it's just for peace of mind. Ususally-before they do anything else, they put you on antibiotics to see if it goes down. Depending on the area of the jaw it could be a 'stone' stuck blocking the salivary gland duct (sucking on hard lemon candy will help dislodge anything in the duct) or a benign tumor of the parotid gland(salivary gland). They're fairly common and sometimes they just leave them alone-other times they surgically remove them. Hang in there - (easier said than done I know)

I second the suggestion to go see and Ear , Nose and Throat Dr. I had a lump on my neck which turned out to be cancer in a lymph node that spread there from another cancerous lump on my upper lip. Since you do not have any other lumps anywhere this may be nothing, but don't take the chance, get it looked at now. If it is something ,the sooner it's caught the better. Please let us know how you make out.

My mom and uncle had lumps in the jaw.Turned out to be blocked glands.Antibiotics are helpful here.Advice:Put a hot cup of liquid on it and see if it breaks up.If so,you will feel a salty taste in your mouth.Good luck.

Help ! 30 years ago I "passed" stones in my salivary gland while at a restaurant - Came on sudden, and intense. Pretty traumatic and painful but "relieving" - next day Dr. visit explained what had happened. One month ago, at lunch, same symptoms, stones did not pass. After visits to dentist, oral surgeon, 2 ENT's, multiple x-rays and finally a CT - 3 stones in the submandibular gland and 2 in the parotid gland. Since they didn't pass, I had surgery to remove the 3 in the subman. and the 2 in the parotid were left since it appeared they were not in an area to block the saliva. Two weeks after an easy surgery - I still have sypmtoms - neck swelling with any eating/drinking - pressure in my ear, teeth, and area under and behind my tongue. Am on antibiotics - tomorrow another Dr. visit - he seems very reluctant to do anything with the 2 stones in the parotid gland. I am hoping someone has had something similar and can give me a clue as to what I need to do. I've lost alot of weight due to limited eating/diet. Am uncomfortable most of the time. Don't want to necessarilly have another surgery but it seems as if the stones left in are the cause of the continued problem. Any help/information/ideas would be so appreciated. Thanks

Help ! 30 years ago I "passed" stones in my salivary gland while at a restaurant - Came on sudden, and intense. Pretty traumatic and painful but "relieving" - next day Dr. visit explained what had happened. One month ago, at lunch, same symptoms, stones did not pass. After visits to dentist, oral surgeon, 2 ENT's, multiple x-rays and finally a CT - 3 stones in the submandibular gland and 2 in the parotid gland. Since they didn't pass, I had surgery to remove the 3 in the subman. and the 2 in the parotid were left since it appeared they were not in an area to block the saliva. Two weeks after an easy surgery - I still have sypmtoms - neck swelling with any eating/drinking - pressure in my ear, teeth, and area under and behind my tongue. Am on antibiotics - tomorrow another Dr. visit - he seems very reluctant to do anything with the 2 stones in the parotid gland. I am hoping someone has had something similar and can give me a clue as to what I need to do. I've lost alot of weight due to limited eating/diet. Am uncomfortable most of the time. Don't want to necessarilly have another surgery but it seems as if the stones left in are the cause of the continued problem. Any help/information/ideas would be so appreciated. Thanks