One Year Ago

mixleader
mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Well, three days from today will mark the first anniversary of that dreaded phone call when the nurse said "Roger, you have cancer in your parotid gland". I don't think I will ever forget that phone call. It was much worse than the one I received almost exactly one year prior to that when the Doc said "Roger you have a cancer in your prostate". The prostate issue was very young and very curable and I don't even worry about that any more. The parotid cancer was much worse, of course and changed my life forever. But, as I reported just a few weeks ago, my one year scan showed NED. That was certainly great news, but the latest development has me down in the dumps again. I have been having jaw/ear/cheek pain that is absolutely horrible. I don't mean just irritating or annoying, but bad enough to make me gasp/yelp/flinch/double over, etc. I nearly asked my wife to drive me in to the emergency room last night, but a leftover supply of Darvosets got me through the night. My ENT is calling this TMJ disorder after a few weeks of antibiotics/anti-inflammatories gave less than spectacular results. I go to see my primary care Doc tomorrow to see about what treatments can be done for this. I have been reading about injections of cortisone or Botox that may help. Has anyone else here developed TMJ disorder after facial surgeries/radiation? The docs have to get this figured out because I cannot continue to function with this much pain. I have found a few web sites so far for TMJ pain so I will continue to look for some advice there. I sure hope I can find a site for TMJ that is even close to the great folks and great advice that are available here.

Roger

Comments

  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    #2
    The good and the bad
    Hey Roger,

    Sorry to hear about the pain in your jaw. My PCP has been a lot of help with the pain from the atrophy in my shoulder. Hope you have the same results. But congrats on the one year all clear!!!

    Best,
    Steve
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Quit
    answering the phone around this time of year....

    Hoping that you get everything under control and continue to have many years pain free...

    JG
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #4
    NEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNEDNED
    Roger, great news on your scan results.

    Best!!

    Mike

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