Remembering Adam Yauch: Understanding Salivary Gland Cancer

The news

Adam Yauch — known to the world as MCA, a founding member of the Beastie Boys and a filmmaker and activist — died on May 4, 2012, in New York City at the age of 47. In 2009, Yauch had publicly shared that he'd been diagnosed with cancer involving a parotid (salivary) gland and a nearby lymph node, and that he would be treated with surgery and radiation. At the time, he described the cancer as very treatable. The cancer later returned, and he died about three years after his diagnosis.

That is what Yauch and his representatives chose to share. Details beyond that were, and remain, private.

Why people are talking about it

Salivary gland cancer is rare, and for many fans Yauch's announcement was the first time they had ever heard of it. His death brought a wave of attention to a cancer that rarely makes headlines — and his openness about his diagnosis gave that attention somewhere useful to go.

What this cancer means

According to the National Cancer Institute, salivary gland cancer is a rare disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva, which helps digest food and protect against mouth and throat infections. It is considered a type of head and neck cancer.

NCI notes there are three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid glands (the largest, found in front of and just below each ear — where most major salivary gland tumors begin), the sublingual glands under the tongue, and the submandibular glands below the jawbone, along with hundreds of tiny minor glands. Importantly, NCI says more than half of all salivary gland tumors are benign — not cancer — and do not spread.

NCI also notes that the cause of most salivary gland cancers is not known. Risk factors it lists include older age, previous radiation therapy to the head and neck, and workplace exposure to certain substances.

Awareness, screening & prevention

NCI says salivary gland cancer may cause no symptoms at all and is sometimes found during a routine dental check-up or physical exam. Signs it lists include a usually painless lump near the ear, cheek, jaw, lip, or inside the mouth; trouble swallowing or opening the mouth widely; numbness, weakness, or persistent pain in the face; and fluid draining from the ear. These symptoms are more often caused by other conditions — but if they don't go away, NCI advises checking with a doctor.

There is no routine screening test for salivary gland cancer, which makes ordinary check-ups and dental visits quietly valuable. For the cancers that do have recommended screenings, our free screening check-up tool can show which ones are generally recommended at your age.

Common questions

Is a lump near the ear or jaw always cancer? No. NCI notes that more than half of salivary gland tumors are benign. A persistent lump still deserves a medical look, mostly for peace of mind and early answers.

Did lifestyle cause Yauch's cancer? No one can say, and it isn't ours to guess. NCI states that the cause of most salivary gland cancers is unknown.

How rare is it? Rare enough that most people first hear about it through a story like this one — which is exactly why calm, accurate information matters.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• I've noticed a lump near my ear, cheek, or jaw — what could it be, and how would you check?
• What symptoms in the face, mouth, or throat should I report if they persist?
• Does my history of radiation treatment change what you'd keep an eye on?
• How often should I have dental or medical check-ups that include the head and neck?