Many OCF posters find that their doctors, while good at their particular cancer TX [M0 -poisoning ; RO- burning; ENT -cutting] don't seem to have a good grasp on the standard complications of their TX. Reading posts about doctors who don't do pre TX thyroid tests, or prescribe PT after neck dissections, or speech therapist for swallowing or trismus makes you wonder about what is taught in medical school. Today's Washington Post has an article on lymphedema as "cancer's treatment dirty little secret". It doesn't mention oral cancer at all so it probably won't make the OCF news feed. One excerpt really struck me, especially since many of us get neck dissections which severely impact our lymph system.
[quote]Yet as painful and common as lymphedema can be, it still gets very little attention in the medical literature, and, according to increasingly vocal patient groups, it is infrequently mentioned by doctors when discussing an upcoming cancer surgery or radiation treatment.

A Stanford University survey several years ago found that, on average, the lymphatic system gets only 15 minutes of attention during four years of instruction in medical school, and lymphedema may get no mention at all. [/quote]
Here's the link to the full article
Lymphedema after Cancer
TX
I wonder if medical students get even 15 minutes discussion of mucous problems or any of the other side effects we all suffer.
Charm

I think the pain from Neck Dissections are about as rads and chem. It seems the dissection never lets up much either and especially in waking in the morning. Thanks again for this post Charm. It is good informative reading.

From my personal experience, it come from on the job training... My ENT Nurse Practitioner admitted to me that until her dad actually went through treatments, she really had no idea of what the patients and caregivers were experiencing.

I invite all of my care team to touch and examine my neck and mouth. They all seem curious and a bit mortified. I suffer "wooden neck" and severe Trismus. The reactions are consistent and sympathetic. I find myself waving pom poms and telling them that I am still a vital human that needs them to help me live. Most of them seem to enjoy the challenge. Does any one want to start the "Cancer Treatments Suck" support group?

While I was in Allegheny General, I had many Interns and Drs stop tp check out my TROPHIES and my mouth. Standard question from them was " How Are you still alive?" LOL Will Power and determination. Then the usual, " you sure look good for going thru so much." I enjoyed talking to everyone of them.

I guess it depends on where you are treated. I was told about lymphedema and at Fox Chase Cancer Center they even had a physical therapist that was a lymphedema specialist.

I guess I was lucky to be in the right place.

Good to have you back Jerry. I have found that the physical therapists and speech therapists and the nurses all have a much better understanding of these issues than the doctors. Perhaps it's time for the med school curriculum to start encouraging their students to know what they don't know and start treating therapists and nurses as partners in helping patients instead of secondary providers.
Charm