The most frustrating part of my recovery recently has been the way that the radiation has effected my teeth. I am very diligent about flossing, brushing, and using my fluoride trays every night, but every time I go to the dentist there are more cavities. My dentist was actually the one who discovered my cancer and who ordered the biopsy, so I really trust him. The hygienist, also, is very understanding and is very careful when she cleans my teeth (she has a cousin w/oral cancer) I guess what I am asking is how soon do we forget about all the patching, and just pull the teeth and get dentures? My dentist feels we need to wait and make sure there is no bone damage first. What was everybody else's experience?

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.