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What are the common symptoms of prostate cancer? Difficulty urinating, erectile dysfunction and sudden weight loss. But for a healthy 78-year-old man, it was a toothache and swollen gums.
A seventy-year-old man was reportedly suffering from pain due to the movement of his lower left pre-molar. Ultimately, he decided to go to the dentist and get the tooth removed for a quick fix, reports The Sun.
Wound detected in jaw
He did not get any relief from pain after tooth extraction. Finally, he had to visit the doctor again due to the sudden increase in swelling in his gums. After a CT scan, the dentist discovered a lesion in his jaw and the doctor advised further investigation.
After several tests, it was confirmed that the lesion was metastatic prostate cancer, which is a condition where cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
“Like many other cancers, prostate cancer can metastasize to the jaw,” The Sun quoted Dr. Andrzej Bozik, Dentum’s oral surgeon, as saying.
Prostate Cancer: What is it?
Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate, a small gland found in men. According to the Mayo Clinic website, a small walnut-sized gland in men produces the seminal fluid needed to transport sperm.
Prostate cancer: what are its main symptoms?
Generally, prostate cancer does not exhibit any signs or symptoms in the early stages, making it difficult for a person to detect it. If a person is suffering from prostate cancer, he may experience symptoms like difficulty in urinating, reduced force in the urine stream, blood in the urine, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, etc.
Prostate Cancer: Can toothache or swollen gums be a symptom?
According to Dr. Andrzej Bozik, the jawbone has abundant blood circulation and active bone marrow. Therefore, it may be a favorable location for the growth of metastatic cancer cells.
Metastatic prostate cancer to the jaw is a rare occurrence, but if it occurs it means the cancer has spread widely.
According to the doctor, the symptoms of jaw metastases can be subtle and people may confuse them with dental problems. This is the main reason why such cases are difficult to detect.
“Patients may experience symptoms such as persistent jaw swelling, pain, loose teeth for no apparent reason, or delayed healing after a tooth extraction,” Dr. Bozik said.
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