Diagnosed with Ameloblastoma

@anbar04 How's the recovery coming along? We're all pulling for you!

Thank you guys so much I feel so supported!! Recovery is going well I have so much more mobility now and in terms of eating I’ve moved up to a soft diet which is good. The only thing is I do have a slight infection in my mouth which leaks out of my neck I’ve been given antibiotics and I have an appointment tomorrow which will hopefully give me more insight but other than that I feel really good and happy with where I am in terms of recovery especially since it’s not even been a month yet.

Next appointments at MDA are scheduled in a week. Should be a full Monday - since the first appointment isn't til 11AM, I plan to just drive in that morning (~3hrs, plus traffic)

Now that I'm in their system, progress toward treatment seems to be much faster. next Monday will be 2 weeks after the initial visit. I'm impressed with the thoroughness of their appointment notes, and how quickly they were posted.

Initially pre-scheduled tests (Xray, generic CT) were cancelled at the first appointment, to be replaced with a dental cone beam CT next Monday. This makes more sense to me. More convenient as well, as it's "in office" for one of my appointments instead of having to drive ~20 miles to a large scale CT.

No updates on the genetic/BRAF screening - but in my experience most doctors want to initially discuss results directly with the patient rather than just drop a report in the system.
https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/dentalconect

Update: BRAF V600E is confirmed, and the medical oncologist is starting the process to start drug treatment.

William, I wonder what were your first symptoms of the ameloblastoma? Was in to dentist for a routine cleaning about a week ago but also went ahead and had them do a conebeam CT scan since I'd been having pressure-like pain on the top right back teeth for awhile. Turns out that there's a "lesion" of some sort in that area but haven't yet gotten back the rad report. Did you have symptoms like this at all and was a lesion seen on dental scan? Ameloblastoma keeps coming up when researching so was curious how it all started for you.

Hi @honeybear3. I myself have not had Ameloblastoma, only the similar surgery that others have had such as @anbar04.
As I understand this tumor, it likes to grow primarily on the mandible or lower jaw. It isn’t considered cancer as it doesn’t spread but it is still an uncontrollable growth.
It is also rather rare. Most physicians have never seen it nor know anything about it. That said, it would be best to seek out those who have experience with it, if indeed this is what it is. You may have to wait for results. Also it does not seem to be a fast growing tumor as many live with it for years although it can become uncomfortable and disfiguring.
Take a look at some good medical websites including Mayo Clinic.org . Learn what you can and then seek the best to help you. And when it’s under control, hug your dentist.

Thank you for your reply! Best to you!

As someone who has had ameloblastoma I didn’t have any apparent symptoms until last august in which my dad noticed the right side of my face was swollen and as the weeks went on it was getting more and more uncomfortable to eat so I went to the dentist and their scans showed a cyst which was taken for a biopsy a month later which turned out to be ameloblastoma! It was very sudden and unexpected and like @hrhwilliam said not many physicians were familiar with the tumour so I opted for a high quality specialist to review my scans which led to the surgery to remove the tumour with the jaw reconstruction. Ameloblastoma often invades the mandible and can be cystic or not- that being said if it is ameloblastoma just know that while the process may be scary you’ve got this and you will never be placed in a situation you cannot handle. We’re always for you!

Just wanted to also add an update from me- almost 2 months post op and I feel really good. My mobility in the arm is getting back to normal and I am able to have harder foods now and my speech is normal as well, they said that my quick recovery is down to age as being relatively young has aided me massively in recovery. The only thing that I’m tackling most of the time is the fact that it’s still pretty swollen it’s slowly becoming smaller but you can tell my new bone is still trying to settle it’s way in!

Anbar04 you have made my week with your news. So happy to hear you are on the mend and well.