Complications of Jaw Cancer

Overview

Jaw cancer, also known as jawbone cancer, happens when a cancerous tumor grows on the upper or lower jawbone. It can cause various problems that may affect a person's mouth health and overall health. Below are some common complications of jaw cancer and ways to prevent or treat them:

• Dental problems: Jaw cancer can make it hard to clean the teeth and gums well, leading to issues like cavities and gum disease. To prevent dental problems:
  • Brush your teeth twice a day
  • Floss daily
  • Visit a dentist on a regular basis
  • If you have dental issues, ask your doctor or dentist about the best treatments
• Swallowing problems (dysphagia): Jaw cancer, especially when it affects the head and neck area, can make swallowing painful or difficult. To help with swallowing problems:
  • Eat smaller meals more often
  • Choose soft or pureed foods (foods that have been blended to a smooth texture, like mashed potatoes or smoothies)
  • In severe cases, a feeding tube (a tube that brings food directly to the stomach) may be needed
  • Talk with your healthcare team for advice on how to handle swallowing issues
• Speech problems: Changes to the tongue, lips, and other parts of the mouth due to jaw cancer can affect speech. To help with speech:
  • Consider speech therapy, which can help improve how clearly you speak and make communication easier.
  • Your doctor or cancer care team (oncology team) can connect you with a speech therapist (a specialist who helps people improve their speaking skills) who has experience working with people with oral cancer.
• Emotional issues: Dealing with jaw cancer can lead to emotional problems, like feeling very sad or hopeless (depression), frustrated, anxious, or easily irritated. To manage emotional issues:
  • Join a local or online support group to connect with others who have similar experiences and can offer emotional support.
  • Talk with a counselor or therapist. Counseling or therapy can help with handling these emotions.
• Jaw stiffness: Radiation therapy for jaw cancer can cause jaw stiffness over time. This stiffness can make it hard to fully open the mouth and may cause discomfort. Treatment options for jaw stiffness may include:
  • Medical devices to help open the mouth
  • Pain management techniques
  • Muscle relaxing medications
  • Jaw exercises recommended by a physical therapist, who can help people improve jaw movement and reduce pain
  • Medication for depression, if needed

Avoiding problems with jaw cancer:

• Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol: These are risk factors for mouth cancers.
• Take care of your mouth: Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste (a special toothpaste that protects teeth from decay) and floss daily to remove food and plaque between teeth.
• Visit your dentist regularly: Regular check-ups can help find any dental issues early.
• Follow your healthcare team's advice: After treatment, follow your doctor’s instructions for any necessary for follow-up care.

Remember that each person’s situation is different, so it is important to talk with your healthcare professional or oncology team for advice that’s right for you when it comes to preventing and treating complications related to jaw cancer.

Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Other side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional side effect information.