Numb chin and scared

hi,I am a 11year stage 3 tonsil survivor,things have been well until recently,firstly I developed a sore tongue which i had a biopsy for which came back as severe dysplasia(pre-cancerous cells)this is going to be removed by laser next week..But now I have developed a numb chin and lower lip!

I had a look on Google "numb chin" and it all coming back as a secondary cancer in the mandible (lower jaw bone)Really scared now,any other tonsil survivors who had radiotherapy had this problem!!

Comments

  • armana
    armana Member Posts: 97 Member
    Stage III Tonsil cancer survior

    I was diagnosed with stage III tonsil cancer August of 2014 and finished radiation Novemebr 2014. The cancer was positive for the HPV virus, I was told by my Dr. 2 weeks ago that I am cured and highly unlikley for the cancer to come back, however, he stresses that I should remail vigilant and need to be monitord for a long time.

    Was your cancer caused by the HPV virus ?

    Arman

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    unknown for now

    B5115,

    11 years clear is good.  If it is the same and a slow grower hpv could be the culprit.

    Have they done a PET to determine areas of activity?  I don’t know what causes a numb chin and lower lip except cold weather or a trip to dentist.

    I Googled “found it early” and it said best chance for total recovery.

    Good luck.

    Matt

  • Bazzer5115
    Bazzer5115 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2016 #4
    Hi,my stage 3 tonsil cancer

    Hi,my stage 3 tonsil cancer was hpv-16 positive.Had surgery followed by chemo/radiotherapy.The one lymph node that was infected but responded to radiotherapy so no neck dissection.Other than usual side effects all been good.Consultant said the recent dysplasia properly not linked and is just one of those things and lucky it pre cancerous even though it at the severe stage.Being removed by laser next week,then followed up for another 5years.But it is the numb chin that is worrying me sick,because of the highly likely cause a secondart cancer to the mandible from the lungs-googled it.Consultant wants to carry on and remove dysplasia and than do scans to see cause of "numb chin".I just hopeing it a long term radiation effect,and wondered if this happened to others.

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    edited December 2016 #5
    You will do yourself a favor...

    by getting into your ENT.  He might order a scan, and that would be good.  Radiation truly is the gift that keeps on giving....years and years and YEARS down the road.....we see it on here often.  Despite what Google says, there is more than one reason for a numb chin....This could be nerve damage from rads.  Get into the ENT, no matter what....the earlier the better.

    p