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