Diagnosed /w Ameloblastoma. Young Adult

Thank you again to everyone being responsive and checking in with me. I have received news that for my CT-Scan alone, with insurance included the payment of it would be immensely high. To provide an estimate, $1300-1400. I work a job, however, the pay I receive is overwhelmed by the costs of this treatment already. Is this a normal co-pay usually? If not, I will have to figure out what to do. Since my previous conversations, I feel slight pain on the lower left jaw-section. I am unsure if this is is a placebo effect, or if within this period of time it has escalated. I will respond back here again, any and all types of responses are welcome as usual and greatly appreciated. This affects my academic career as well so there is a lot for me to take in.

If there isn't much information for the financial side, I do not mind more advice in general. Bless you all.

Medical costs can vary hugely between providers. I'm not even sure why a CT would be required if you were doing the full resection and fibular flap.

I also would not be in a rush (and yes - I know very well how hard that is).

How long ago was the "cyst" removal which turned out to be ameloblastoma? Do you know the approximate size?

Have you read the other ameloblastoma thread? @erikm was in a similar situation - tumor removed, later identified as ameloblastoma - what to do now? Starts on Page 22 https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ameloblastoma/?pg=22

Hi Tom,

thanks for checking in. I will be looking at that thread as well and that is extremely helpful. As for your question.

This cyst removal originally happened in March 2024, through the removal of my impacted wisdom teeth in the lower jaw section. Afterward, after having a follow-up in October, it was advised that a recurrence had happened in the lower jaw section. This spot was not the same area where the original wisdom tooth and cyst were, which was removed. It's hard for me to explain without pictures. The x-ray did not initially look big, and was recent, underneath the canine and first premolar.

Having a new location show up definitely raises the concern level. Have you had a good look at all of your imaging?

Sorry for the late reply, it's been a busy week, to say the least. I have yet to get the CT scan done, as the expenses outweigh my income, so it is at a standstill. Unfortunately, the pain has settled into a burning at the jaw so that does give concerns, once I officially get a full update, everything will be in immense detail about the current status, thank you again!

@meadowj

I've been thinking more about what you said.

When I originally had my tumor removed, the process inflamed or damaged the main nerve on that side of the jaw, so about a quarter of my face and part of the inside of my mouth (including part of my tongue) was numb for several months after the actual incision had healed over with gum tissue. As feeling came back, I had burning and itching around the edges of the numb area for several more months while the numb area shrank.

I still remember the stubborn final spot was on my chin - pretty far from the actual tumor removal. I'm wondering if you are experiencing something similar - part of your body repairing itself. It would be unprecedented for an ameloblastoma to meaningfully grow back in this short of a timeframe.

As an aside: Shaving a partially numb face is WEIRD! I hadn't realized how much I depended on sensation of the razor on my face to microadjust pressure.

For the imaging - I was referring to whatever Xrays or other imaging you already had done. You can often get online access to them.

Hi again, Tom,

It's been a long couple of weeks. I am still trying to gather assistance for expenses. I have X-rays too, technically. I just need to get them from the people who had previously provided me copies, which I sent to my referred surgeon. Sorry for the slow update! There has been a lot of back-and-forth on handling my procedure recently.

No worries at all! I'm just trying to be supporting.