Paul,

I wondered the same thing as Gary -- I don't understand the point about having to lose half your teeth (unless there is already a problem with them apart from what's going on with your treatment).

Before I went through radiation, I heard plenty of stories from the dental people in my cancer center about what can go wrong with your teeth after radiation if you don't follow the regimen they give you. The stories came complete with some pretty nasty pictures. Fifteen years later I still have all my teeth -- during that time I've occasionally needed a crown or a bit of gum surgery (I'm constantly fighting receding gums), but so far it's been minor stuff compared with cancer surgery and radiation.

Cathy