Again I realize this response comes long after your post, but it may be of help to someone.

Yes I had "the mask" created and was secured to the table for IMRT treatment.

I really don't know what was the worst: the confinement; the popsicle stuck into my mouth; the horrendous noises; or knowing I was literally being "fried" by the rads.

Nonetheless they messed up by not taking into consideration the metal fillings in my teeth. The radiation was not localized and reflected throughout my mouth.

It was the worst part of everything I went through.

I realize this is a very old post but I will still share my experience for what it's worth. I was diagnosed with SCC on right base of tongue. I underwent a hemiglossectomy. The right side of my tongue was removed. Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as I expected and I've been able to get on with a relatively regular life.

I have experienced significant weight loss throughout the last 11 years since I was diagnosed with cachexia however I have always been able to get my weight back up. Last year I was diagnosed with stercoral colitis and have not been able to maintain my weight. My doctor now wants to put me on Remeron. Anyone had experience with this?

Sorry about your diagnosis. Not knowing for sure can be scary I know. Just want to share my 2 cents about biopsies. I was taken 2 biopsies on the same lesion near my kidney 2004 and 2 different institutions got it wrong both times. 1st one diagnosed it as kidney cancer and the 2nd was mestatic squamous cell carcinoma. I always thought biopsies were a sure thing , not so . When they finally took the tumor out, it was confirmed Non-Hodgkins lymphoma and not mestatic squamous cell carcinoma. On the 2nd opinion the oncologist was certain they got it right too, wrong. This might be rare but it happen to me . I would get the best of the best opinion you can find.