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Salivary gland cancer is cancer that begins in the salivary glands. Your salivary glands make saliva to keep your mouth moist and help you digest food. You have three pairs of major salivary glands — in front of each ear (parotid glands), under your tongue (sublingual glands) and below your jawbone (submandibular glands). In addition, hundreds of tiny salivary glands line your mouth, nose and throat.
Tumors that form in the salivary glands can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Salivary gland cancer is rare — most salivary gland tumors are noncancerous (benign).
Most salivary gland tumors start in the parotid glands. Signs and symptoms of salivary gland tumors include swelling in a salivary gland, pain and weakness in the facial muscles. Treatment for salivary gland tumors usually involves surgery and, sometimes, radiation.
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Read more about salivary gland cancer.
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