Numbness in Cheek

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SpunkyGirl
SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hey Girls,

I'm sorry that it's been a while that I've logged in.  I feel bad that I've returned as a result of being concerned about something, but here goes.  For about the last several months, I've had some instances of numbness in my right cheek.  The first couple of times it happened, it didn't last very long, so I wrote it off.  Well, it happened last week for about the fifth or sixth time, so I figured I better get it looked at.  My initial concern was that Tamoxifen was causing it.  Tamoxifen has a higher risk of causing stroke or TIA in clinical trials, but it's still a rare thing.  So I stopped the tamoxifen and called my oncologist.  I figured he would be okay with that because I was almost at the five year mark anyway.  Well, I saw him today, and he doesn't think it's the tamoxifen, but his suspicion level is "low" that it's anything to do with my breast cancer history.  He did order a brain MRI just in case, as well as an MRI of the affected sinus cavities and I'm getting that done this Friday.

It's only been seven months since Dave died, and I can't even contemplate putting my kids through seeing their remaining parent go through this again, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what we're dealing with first.  On a positive note, I sleep in the exact same position every night, on that cheek, so I'm hoping it's a pinched nerve thing.  I started sleeping on my back, and I'm not as comfortable, but I hope that's all it is.  Please keep me and my boys in your prayers this week, that the news is good!  God bless all my cyber girlfriends.

Love

Bobbie

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  • DCMom
    DCMom Member Posts: 624
    edited April 2012

    Bobbie

    AAAAARGH!  It's always something isn't it?  It sounds like it is probably something completely benign, but tests are always scary.  I am sending strong vibes your way.  I'll be looking forward to good news!!!!!  Just throwing it out there into the atmosphere; even said it out loud a few times for good measure.  "Nothing to worry about"  "Nothing to worry about"  "Nothing to worry about".   So it is written so it shall be Smile

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  • Josiekat
    Josiekat Member Posts: 85
    edited April 2012

    Thinking about you and your family and hoping it's absolutely nothing!

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited April 2012

    Love you, honey!  Try not to go "there" (yeah, I know).   We are here to hang on to you so you don't climb too far up that crazy tree.  Lots of things this could be other than the C word.  Do you go to the chiropractor?  Think you are out of wack?  (well....more than usual? hehe)

    Slobbery hugs! 

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  • momof3boys
    momof3boys Member Posts: 896
    edited April 2012

    My sister (does not have BC) gets this periodically throughout the year. For her, it is a sinus issue. She has even had slurred speech from it.

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  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited April 2012

    Hi Bobbie,

    I have had some periodic numbness on my cheeck/jaw area once in a while -- it comes and goes! I have a feeling this will be nothing, but I'll say some prayers for you anyway!!

    jackie

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  • Wendyspet
    Wendyspet Member Posts: 246
    edited April 2012

    I had a friend this happened to. Numbness and tingling on part of her face, which came and went.  (She had never had a cancer through.)  She googled it, and self-diagnosed some kind of long-named syndrome which required multiple surgeries.

    Turned out she just needed a root canal!  Did your onc suggest a dental appt?

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  • Jodycat
    Jodycat Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2012

    I once would get a numb upper lip about one a week.  Tingling, scary.  Almost certainly due to the stress of a meeting I had once a week.  On, you guessed it, the same day.

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  • nikola
    nikola Member Posts: 466
    edited April 2012

    I started Femara in September and within month I had ear infection and my cheek was numb. Got antibiotics. Not even two months later same thing. Got antibiotics again. A month later my ear started to drain yellow fluid and again I was diagnosed with ear infection and was getting antibiotics again. My cheek was numb on and off during those months. I asked onc if chemo could do some damage, he said no, then I asked about Femara and I was told no. My GP finally said it was chronic sinus infection that went to ear. I had CT scan of my sinuses and this Friday I would get results.

    I posted question here and was told Femara could and was causing sinus problems. Since I got very bed back pain and joint pain I stopped Femara only to see what would happen. Results: my cheek is not numb and my right ear is not plugged, my sinuses are finally draining properly.

    Still not taking Femara, having an appointment with naturopath this week to hear him.

    Good luck.

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  • SpunkyGirl
    SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
    edited April 2012

    GIrls,

    Well, you all made me laugh, and you gave me some great options on what this could be.  I'll take any of them!  I'll keep you posted.  I'm sure I'll know by Monday or Tuesday.  Thanks for always being there for me.

    Love

    Bobbie

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited April 2012

    Aw, Bobbie, you know every twitch, every sore, every lump will always be a cancer in our minds until ruled as something innocuous. My hope is that it's just a pinched nerve (I've had that). I'll be saying a few prayers for you for a good outcome!

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2012

    I'm sorry to hear you're having a scare Bobbie and I hope that is all this is.  I hope this makes you feel better....I've had some pain/numbness of the left jaw (BC side) and it freaked me out.  Not bad pain but feels like a tight muscle and then it would go numb.  I went to onc and dr and they found nothing, even MRI showed nothing.  Bugs mentioned a chiropractor and that's who found something wrong with me, even though I can't remember what he called it, he did find that area messed up (I didn't mention it to him either, he found it at initial exam on his own).  It is now gone after working with him, it will flare up once in a while but nothing like before.  My prayers are with you and your boys, please let us know how it goes.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited April 2012
    (((HUGS))) Bobbie,
     
    We get it.  Don't ever feel bad about posting your concerns here.  That's what we are here for, to help you through this, and Lord knows you all have helped me through many scares of my own!

    Wish I could give you some great input on this but it sounds like your doc is being proactive and that's a good (although stressful) thing.  Just better to have it checked out and be sure it's something innocuous than to sit and worry about it.  I will definitely be praying for you and the boys that you all get GOOD news this Friday.

    Let us know how you are doing!
     
    Sharon 
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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited April 2012

    Bobbie, praying for you and of course for the boys !!!!! 

    Sending you hugs and strength. 

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  • SpunkyGirl
    SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
    edited April 2012

    Hi girls!  Just checking in.  I didn't hear anything yesterday, of course.  Hopefully, someone will call me with some good news on Monday.  I hope you all have a nice weekend!

    Love
    Bobbie

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2012

    Waiting with you Bobbie.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2012

    Oh Bobbie I am so sorry you have to go through this but my guess is it's nothing and your going to be fine!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2012

    (((Bobbie)))  I'm glad your onc is on top of this by ordering MRI.  Facial numbness is always something to cause worrry.  The MRI will rule out something serious. 

    image

    Barb

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  • SpunkyGirl
    SpunkyGirl Member Posts: 1,568
    edited April 2012

    Girls, girls, girls!  Negative on the MRI!  I actually called my oncologist back with a few questions to absolutely make sure nothing was missed.  I am so thankful.  I realized over the weekend that I've come to believe that maybe the kids and I aren't meant to have any happiness because of our family's fortunes over the last eight years, and I realized that was silly to think, and that we have happiness in the everyday things anyway. 

    One of my theories on why I was getting the numbness is that I'm always sleeping on that spot every night.  I think it's been better since I altered my sleep position.  Here's another example of how we always have to consider the cancer thing when something like this happens, but more often than not, it's ruled out. 

    Thank you, everyone, for hanging in there with me.  I think I got a great MRI, becuase MARY said it would be so, and I'm going to run with that (a lot!).

    Peace,
    Bobbie

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2012

    YAY Bobbie!  So glad to hear it was nothing.  You are so right about the happiness thing, its hard to see everyday happiness after we go through rough times but they are there everyday.  Its no wonder we think BC for everything but we most likely would have these problems whether BC would have happened or not.  I feel like I'm falling apart since BC so I automatically go there when something pops up....sometimes it's just "old age".....yep I said it, we're getting old!  Ain't it great!  Great news sweetie, doing a happy dance for ya!

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited April 2012

    FABulous news!  Been thinkin' and a prayin' girlfriend!  mmmwwwahhh!  Kissing you on your numb cheek.

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  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 1,074
    edited April 2012

    Such GOOD news Bobbie! I have been thinking of you and I am relieved, too!

    Hugs,

    Lexi

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  • DCMom
    DCMom Member Posts: 624
    edited April 2012

    Such good news and Bobbie you deserve good news!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2012

    Whew!!!  good news Bobbie!  So glad you got the MRI....  No chance of anything major going on. 

    image

    Barb 

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited April 2012

    HURRAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!  Was waiting to hear some GOOD news from you today!  You deserve it. Now RELAX and ENJOY life!!!

    Love,

    Sharon Laughing 

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited April 2012

    Bobbie, I am so relieved (but probably not as much as you, lol).  Yay!

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited April 2012

    Bobbie, just thought I'd mention it to you because I forgot earlier.  When I was having my numbness my onc. researched it and said that Aromasin caused cheek numbness in 2% of subjects.  I'm not sure if you are on it or not if so that could be it but I would think it would have started before now.  She took me off for a week to see if it went away, it didn't, I don't feel like that was my problem.  

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