My name is Larry Nemec, ten years survival of tongue cancer and seven years after a recission of a small (metastatic?) lung tumor.

I have been doing OK with the usual side effects of mucus replacing saliva. Esophagus dilation in 2001 helped me to get rid of a gastric feeding tube.

Recently I developed 'TMJ' (I learned this abbreviation today for the jaw joint) pain with decreasing capability to open my mouth. I will search the forum for posts on this or related themes, any comment will be appraciated.

This cancer has not been fun but, in my case, survivable with an excellent quality of life till recently (the 'TMJ'). Hopefully, something will be done about it. Appointment with a maxillofacial surgeon next week.

Hi Larry, welcome to OCF. Congrats on being a 10 year oral cancer survivor!!!! Did you have radiation for your tongue cancer? Did you have problems opening your mouth afterwards or is this something more recent? You may have what is called trismus, that is a condition where you have very limited opening of your mouth and to open wide is impossible. The muscles have constricted. It is pretty common for people who have had radiation to struggle to maintain a decent opening. TMJ from what I understand is more pain in the jaw joint area and/or clicking sound when you eat.

Be careful with your appointment, surgeons cut and this could be something that can be helped with physical theraphy, exercises and a therabite or similar appliance.