Hey there, Radiation really messed me up. I did not have swallowing issues until 10 months post radiation I had speech and swallowing therapy for months. Now I have exercises that I am supposed to do for the rest of my life. I also have very thick mucus from the radiation and this collects under the obturator. I just don't know. I am glad to be alive but this is not what I bargained for.

Hi, I am going on two years survival if all goes well in May UM visit and scope.
I have had so much trouble with my obturator. I have had so many adjustments and they only last a few days. I was hoping to find a genuine positive thought on here.
I have food getting under mine and also liquids coming out my nose. I have avoided going out to dinner for almost 2 years.
I don't like holidays any more. Every meal means almost a half hour cleaning my mouth and the obturator. When my dentist did an adjustment to it, she said it was very heavy.
I don't have anything to compare it too.
This obturator has only been a part of me since last Sept.2025. My dentist at UM said everyone has a lot of adjustments.

If you find someone with few complaints, please send them my way. I don't even know where to look for someone to make a new one for me. I will be going to UM until 5 years are up.

I am so glad I found this site.

I am 83 years old. I am a young 83, diagnosed in March of 2024. I had surgery May 7, 2024 at University of Michigan. I was and am a non smoker, did not drink alcohol since I was very young, have not done recreational drugs.

Believe me this diagnosis of SSC was so shocking. I was at my dentist getting a crown placed. Prep had been January 2024. My dentist was on maternity leave and a retired dentist was filling in. He looked in my mouth and went out of the room. When h came back, he said, I want someone else to look in your mouth, an oral surgeon and you need to go there right now. I had no idea what was going on. I was totally confused.

Anyway, I drove 25 miles to see the oral surgeon who said I needed to pack a bag and get to U of M immediately. Go to Emergency Dept and tell them something is growing in my mouth and needs to be seen right away. U of M is over 2 hours south of where we live.


We went to Ann Arbor the next day, walked in and was seen immediately. People wait for months to get an appointment there. Anyway, I was examined right away, in the hallway, as they were packed. I had the biopsy, right then, Resident walked it to the lab and waited and brought the results to me. When he said "I don't want to tell you this" I said I already know.

I am trying to remember what all happened but in reality it was a whirlwind 2 months. Tests and more tests and appointments.

Surgery May 7, 2024 The beginning of my long journey.

Diagnosis:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavity

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