Hi Penny!
I don't have any knowledge about the tumor you mention of the Parotoid Gland, however, I work for a dermatologist and also I am a BC survivor.
Your doctor is propably correct. One thing I've
discovered is when a primary cancer travels either locally or to another part of the body the
pathologist finds the same type of cancer cell.
For example, if a breast cancer cell were to move
to the bone, liver or any other part of the body,
pathologically it still has the properties of the
original tumor, a breast cancer. It doesn't change to another form of cancer.
There is what is called an actinic keratosis in
skin and a squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
Related to the skin, an actinic keratosis is a
PRE-CANCER which can on occasion become a squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated. However if the squamous cell carcinoma were to
spread to a nearby gland etc. the pathologist
would still find the properties of a squamous
cell carcinoma in the recurring tumor. I hope
this helps to answer your question.