I hate to go to the dentist, too! But my dentist is the one who first saw the oral cancer on my tongue, and he got me to an oral sugeon right away for a biopsy. His quick action probably saved my life. Now, because of the radiation damage, I have to go every three - four months. I almost always have cavities, too, and I am more nervous about going there than going to the oncologist, but I know that I have to take care of my teeth, and you do, too. Being afraid of going to the dentist is pretty common, even my ENT surgeon is! I mentioned to him that I hated going to the dentist, and he said that he did, too! I thought that was pretty funny.


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.