numbness in bottom lip and chin and swelling on jaw line

This has happened to me. I had a big swelling on the left side of my face. I pointed it out ( you could hardly miss it) to my GP and Oncologist and I just got nothing from them, until I got a visit from a doctor who came with my Palliative nurse. She had a look and a feel of it. Prescribed Steroids and slowly it reduced in size. Can only open my mouth wide enough for liquids and real soft food. Unable to chew as my tongue has,how can I say receeded into the back of my mouth. My normal GP says its nothing to worry about. I'm sorry but I think it is! Not being able to eat normal food or go out for meals really gets me down as not only am I missing out but so is my partner and its not fair on her. My bottom lip on the left side is numb to the point where I'm drooling all down my the side of my face without noticing.It affects my speech to the point where people cant grasp what I'm saying, especially when on the phone and that frustrates me. I will bring up the possibility of surgery on my jaw to my Palliative when she visits next week as they keep on about quality of life. Thank You for posting as I was thinking there was nothing that could be done. I can live with the cancer even though its terminal as long as I can have a near to normal life.

Thankyou so much for your reply,i am so very sorry you have terminal cancer :( i wont know whats going on with my tumour till February 

i must admit when i had the swelling i almost felt as if i was being a bit of a pain ,but my jaw and cheek were extremely painful and right now i can still barely open my mouth and my chin and bottom lip are numb but painful to touch.i hope the antibiotics work but its frustrating as i have been telling them for months that there is something wrong ..i would love to eat normally but i cannot.and yes i too have drooled and its embarrassing ,A retired nurse neighbour of mine just mentioned ORN but said it might not be and talk to my Oncologist first and yes i did google it and i know i should not have done that but i did lol  i will need to wait for any confirmation .I just wish months ago something had been done instead i kept getting told the swelling was Lymphodemia and the numbness and pain are probably nerve damage caused by the radiotherapy...ps when i have tried to eat i end up biting my bottom lip and  gum and i also still get ulcers and no taste on my tongue im not sure if you got the same but i also got a leakage from my chin where the swelling had got really bad and painful ,its a horrible after effect . I really hope your nurse can help with you and just reading your story has really helped me feel im not the only one so thankyou you have helped me xx

Hi Dani i go this afternoon to find out exactly what it is .i also find out about the tumour,even though i finished treatment in Sep im now only finding out this afternoon,very long time but appointments got cancelled.( not by me ) i have been sent an appointment to see another maxifacial specialist on the 10th March ,I  didnt know why but after looking up who is dr Teemur at Castlehill hospital,hes a specialist in jaw problems,it has been going through my head at night,what if this is cancer ? but surely my own cancer specialist consultant would have told me before now. When you had orn was your chin numb and teeth sore ? at the bottom,one of my teeth feels a bit wobbly.I long for this numbness and tingling and pain on my jaw bone to go away as i could cope going back to work then,but right now going out in the cold is extremely painful and swells my chin,I look like a ninja going out in the cold thank god the weather is getting a little better lol 

Hi Susie. Any news on today’s appointment? 

Hi Dani

good and not quite so good news,the tumour has gone yippeeee but the ulcers i still get a lot of on my tongue are still radiation fallout the consultant also added could be a long long time for that to get better,The chin and jaw.he says its a bacteria that has got into my jaw  ? ( he said the name but i couldnt pronounce it lol ) i will be receiving a copy of the letter which will have the name of it i will let you know he did mention going into hosp to get my bottom teeth removed and getting at the bacteria then send it off to a lab who will decide what is the best treatment for me.I will be on antibiotics for a long long time,Hopefully at the end or maybe well before the year is up i will have no numb jaw or pain in my jawbone..

The fact that you do t have ORN is a huge bonus. The rest is pants. At least there is a plan. Hugs.