Hello! My husband had the same surgery in late August. We were told initially that it was benign, but once they opened him up to remove the "lump" it was decided to be malignant! Our lives changed! We went to Dana Farber fafter the surgery for a 2nd opinion and were told it was a high grade, aggressive, squamous cell cancer of the parotid gland! Even though this type of cancer does not respond to chemo, it was their opinion that he needed both radiation & chemo. The chemo would help to rid any cancer cells that might have escaped into his body. Perhaps because yours was a low grade, the chemo was not needed.
He has completed both the radiation & chemo. The worst of the side effects was it destroyed his ability to taste. He lost 30 pounds! It has been 3 weeks. He still does not have any taste. He is taking 130mg of zinc in hopes of speeding up the return of taste. We were told this might help. He is now thinking it is beginning to return, though not alot---just an inkling. We hope for more every day!
Have you tried the Boast Plus drinks? They are a high calorie drink and are very good. These have gotten my husband through the last two months. He has also gone to GNC and found a high calorie protein drink--Mass XXX---with 900 calories per drink! He has gained 1 & 1/2 pounds this week. The doctor was concerned with the amount of protein in the drink, as it will have some bad effects on his kidneys, so he has cut them in half, for now.
Hang in there! Things will get better!
Jean