#58157 04-18-2006 06:15 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) |  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Miss Vicki, so happy to hear from you.
Yes, I have a titanium plate along my jaw. I haven't had any problems with it, my jaw works amazingly well. Tell me more about what's going on?
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#58158 04-19-2006 05:57 PM | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 306 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 306 | The "Radio Wrinkles" are pretty common I think. The IMRT might cause it more, because it had a fairly consistant demarcation between radiated skin and un-radiated skin. The only thing I have found that really helps is laughter!! Smiling and laughter change those 'aging' wrinkles into laugh lines and smile lines. And, who cares about wrinkles when you are smiling!
More literally, the muscles in the lower part of the face don't get used much by folks like us, expecially if we aren't smiling much, and not chewing as much, or even talking as much. Radiated muscles do lose elasticity and range of motion. Sometimes that range and tone are recovered, but often not completely - and sometimes not at all.
Perhaps the wrinkled mouth is the purple heart of radio treatment. It is certainly a sign of courage and character. Be strong. Tom
SCC BOT, mets to neck, T4.
From 3/03: 10wks daily multi-drug chemo,
Then daily chemo with twice daily IMRT for 12 weeks - week on, week off. No surgery. New lung primary 12/07. Searching out tx options.
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#58159 04-20-2006 01:24 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Thank You Tom, that makes sense! Besides what's a few wrinkles when you are ALIVE? I guess, for me, it is just being vain. I am coming up on my 4 year diagnosis date May 10, 2002! Happy to be here! Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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