My husband is almost three years post radiation (ended 12/5/06). His scans had all been good until the last round in May when they saw something at the base of his tongue where the original site was, but the oncologist said it was fluid, a cyst or plugged salivary gland and not cancer. Then the ENT looked at the report, got all upset, talked to the oncologist, the oncologist ordered an MRI mainly to pacify the ENT. The oncologist really did not think there was a recurrence (the oncologist actually said he would drop dead if there was a recurrence of cancer there). The MRI report came back with something on his cervical spine consistent with bone cancer. The ENT was very upset with this report. But again the oncologist and his radiologist looked at the CD and compared it to the many scans he has done and said the thing was there on all of them, isn�t growing, isn�t lighting up, probably is either some congenital abnormality that was always there or else is most likely arthritis, but not cancer. So in any event, the last couple months have been and up and down roller coaster again with getting worried and scarred, getting calmed down again. I am sure you all know how it feels. In any event we are fairly calm again re: the actual cancer part. He is having another CT/PET scan in Nov.
In the meantime, he has been seeing the dentist who says his jaw bone on the opposite side from the cancer is deteriorating and he will eventually need two teeth extracted with all the potential problems with this. His current question is that his jaw and mouth swells overnight especially, on the opposite side from the original lesion (where his jaw bone is deteriorating). The swelling seems to be getting worse, not sure if this is related to his deteriorating bone in his jaw or what? We will need to be looking for a good oral surgeon in this area if he is ready for the extractions. Is there anything else he can do about the swelling? What are the options such as lymphatic massage to improve his circulation in his jaw? Is it normal for the swelling to be worse on the opposite side from the original lesion?
Thank you.