Bone Cancer?

[mjon515]

I have recently found what feels like a lump on the back lower curve of my jaw bone. It doesnt move, is really hard, and is maybe pea sized. It actually feels like its part of the bone. I am not sure if its just a misformation and has been there all of my life, or is something new. I found it three days ago, and I don't think it has grown at all.

I have had pain in that side of my jaw, but its sort of the same pain I have had in it for the last ten years or so. In other words, theres pain, but its really not new pain, and its defintely not severe. I ten to have to pop my jaw a lot, and can hear crunching sometimes when I move it around, which leads me to think theres some tmj in that side of my jaw. But the lump thing is on the back lower curve.

I had a doctor sort of look at it, and he said that it maybe felt like it "could" be a calcification on the jaw bone, but wasn't concerned. I also had a full blood count which was normal.

Over the last two years I have had all kinds of anxiety about having cancer. During that time I have had CT scans of my abdomen, chest , and head, all which were normal. Along with a lot of normal blood work, some with slightly low hemoglobin, but nothing big.

I have been sort of lethargic lately, but I do have a one year old, and poor sleep patterns. My other big concern is my weight. I have weighed 130  for the last eight months. While I haven't lost any weight, I don't seem to gain it either. Seems I just stay at that weight.

With all that said, does any of this sound like it could signal cancer? The lump thing on my jaw has me concerned, but I have no idea if its typical of bone cancer or not. Also, with all the CT scans, and with my recent normal blood count, can I rule out cancer? Ive had this uneasy anxiety about having cancer for two years, and I would think something major would have shown by now, atleast in my blood counts. The anxiety just came on one day, and it just hasnt left.

Thanks for your help!

[mjon515]

Thanks for your response! I did go to my primary care doctor, and he felt it was nothing to worry about. He told me he thinks it's just the bone structure of my jaw. In fact, he didn't even feel any imaging needed to be done on it. He also told me with the work ups I had done last year, and the symptoms I had, that he was confident I had no cancer. He gave me Effexor for anxiety, and for the last two weeks it has helped a lot. Since then I haven't had such a consuming anxiety that I have some sort of cancer. Thanks for your help!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, without a clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of the bump. Possibilities that may need to be considered include lymphnodes, cysts, growths from the bone or the surrounding connective tissue etc. I would suggest getting this evaluated by a primary care physician initially and getting imaging of the lesion done (x-ray/ CT). After a cause is identified, it can be managed accordingly.
Hope this helps.

Take care!