| Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 81 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 81 Likes: 2 | As part of my radiation treatment upcoming, I was fitted with a dental stent that was 3D printed by a local company. This will help keep my tongue in place. In addition the stent will absorb some of the scattered X-rays from IMRT and is supposed to help limit damage to adjacent areas. It looks like this:[img] https://radtecmedicaldevices.com/product_ipd/[/img] (I have the "vertical stent" about halfway down the page.)
Last edited by Stef H; 06-01-2017 10:39 AM.
Keep fighting friends!
Me -- currently 53 years old SCC diagnosed 3/7/2017 at age 48 Staging SCC HPV+ T0,N1 primary unknown PET 3/16, no activity, biopsies 3/23 benign TORS surgery identified 2mm tumor in BOT (vallecula) Cancer restaged T1, N2, M0 Begin 30 sessions of radiation (60 Gy) 6/13 Completed radiation 7/24/2017 1st MRI clear 10/23/2017!! 2nd MRI clear 10/17/2018! | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Wow! 3D printing for those things? Technology is something else! Many OC patients must use the mouth piece when they do rads. This is the first Ive heard of the mouth piece being done by 3D printing. Good luck with your treatments ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 81 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 81 Likes: 2 | Thank you, Christine. It takes 6 hours to print so they told me if I wanted a new one or the fit wasn't right they could do quick turn-around.
The company CEO was a young man who's father had been treated at Stanford with good results. It inspired him to make medical devices for patients unforgiving radiation treatment.
I start radiation treatment 6/13 for 30 sessions. I have written a list of all the tips on the site and have recipes, have started upping my water consumption, and have ordered a water-pik. Going to try my best to follow everyone's shared learning and experience to try to minimize the impact.
I am so grateful to those who have shared what they have learned and will pay it forward.
Stef
Keep fighting friends!
Me -- currently 53 years old SCC diagnosed 3/7/2017 at age 48 Staging SCC HPV+ T0,N1 primary unknown PET 3/16, no activity, biopsies 3/23 benign TORS surgery identified 2mm tumor in BOT (vallecula) Cancer restaged T1, N2, M0 Begin 30 sessions of radiation (60 Gy) 6/13 Completed radiation 7/24/2017 1st MRI clear 10/23/2017!! 2nd MRI clear 10/17/2018! | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | You are going to get thru this! We will help you as much as we can.
I wish I had been as good of a patient as I see you are. Im impressed at how prepared you are. Over the years Ive noticed a trend... the patients who get thru rads the easiest are the ones who focus on their intake. They push themselves every single day to hit those minimums. The most successful patients will take in above and beyond the minimums and they do that on a consistent basis.
Wishing you all the very best with your continued recovery from surgery. Eat as much as you can so you dont have any cravings going into rads.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | Stef,
You are really well-prepared. Not very many people can "stake the bull by its horns" the way you are doing. Hopefully, you will have an easier time through rads. All the best.
Gloria She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards
Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016. | | |
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