My husband was operated on in February to remove an oral cancer.

His jaw was split to gain access to the back of the tongue and it now has metal plates in it.

A recent lump in this area was diagnosed as an infection (shows as dark area on an x-ray) and he is on antibiotics and is having the metal plates removed and larger ones fitted soon.

His maxillo surgeon hasn't said anything about this being serious at all, but I think I remember reading something that any infections in the jawbone can be very serious.

My husband thinks that the surgeon said the infection is eating away the bone, but I didn't pick up on this.

Is this very serious, or just a routine complication?

Thanks

To find out more about your worries you probably need to research the term osteoradionecrosis.
I think probably antibiotics are the first line of treatment before more radical hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

I have posted before on my teeth.
Basically my teeth now are all rotten and breaking off one by one due to the Radiotherapy.
The Consultant Surgeon is reluctant to take them out as an infection is a very high risk and this would mean an infection in my jaw bone and removal of.
I was told I would have Oxygen teatment first!
But I am at the moment just holding my breath for the dreaded time I go to Max Fax and they tell me they are taking them out?
Will I cope ?
Paul

Dear Paul,
It is very easy to say that of course you will cope but you will, you will. You have already gone through so muchj trhat this time last year you wouldn't have believed you could cope. But you did. This is all part of the getting-Paul-well plan.
I thought of you today when I was in the fish shop. No, you DON'T look like a fish! But this friend of mine was waiting to be served and she has had what could be a carbon copy almost of your treatment. She was on great form,looking very pretty in pale green chiffon--she really does look better and younger since losing weight although she wuld rather have been the previous plumper Jeannie obviously. She manages to speak quite well when she knows who she's talking to and isn't self conscious. I am not religious althouygh I believe in something definitely, but Jeannie has become a really happy member of the local Baptist church. It is so warm and outgoing.
That's all really, Paul. Just to say I am think ing about you. The infection might not happen and if it does you are in great hands. Best regards Ishbel.
My huge worry is still trying to put some weight on as I am so scrawny and eating is so limited after all the RT tissue scarring.
I was very brave just now and weighed myself after the bath, not even the towel, and had actuallyput ON a lb in 2 weeks. Owt.s better 'n nowt!

Good afternoon particularly to Ishbel and Paul.

Well, Paul well knows my views regarding his teeth. Paul,wasn't there some talk of you having the hyperbaric thing some months back. Did anything ever come of that? I also seem to remember you mentioning osteoradionecrosis, was this ever followed up for you? If so you just might be able to help """Spouse""".

To be a bit frivolous - somehow I just can't visualise Paul in green chiffon, corduroy perhaps - chiffon no!

Ishbel, you remember mentioning Mucodyne some time back. Well, following your advice I asked my GP for some. It certainly does help with the mucus.. The GP did mention that at one point Mucodyne had been on the Governments proscribed list - wonder why?

Regarding your attempts to put on weight. That's one of the few plus points about PEG feeding. It's so easy to regulate your calorie intake. I do keep wondering about my weight because according to wifes magazines for my age and height I'm about 20 lbs overweight. Yet neither my consultant nor the dietician have said anything about me being overweight. Indeed they seem quite happy to let keep larding it on !!

Enough for now - God bless to you all

Hello Spouse

Jaw bone that has been subject to irradiation has difficulty healing if infected resulting in areas of dead bone. There is more information on how the problem is managed in this link to previous posts.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee: