Danny, In October 2010, five years after my XMRT, I developed trismus. Severe oropharyngeal dysphagia (aspiration had become a problem and I did have aspiration pneumonia) and ORN of my right mandible were diagnosed soon after. I had 60 HBO dives between October 2010 and Janury 2011 which appeared to stabilize the ORN. (Earlier in 2010 I had extensive dental work ~ fillings and crowns ~ due to cavities. Even with my fluoride my teeth turned bad. Dental work was a possible factor in the ORN.) I had a PEG placed in March 2011. In August 2011 fistulas developed on my right mandible and exited through the skin. I had an additional 30 HBO dives between December 2011 and February 2012. In March 2012 I had jaw debridement and removal of the titanium bar that had been placed in my 2005 surgery. Although I do have granualation tissue in the debridement surgery area, one fistula has not closed and I wear a gauze covering 24/7. My jaw continues to naturally debride. I can live with it. I continue to have heavy mucus and trismus, both contributing to difficulty with clear speech.

I wanted to share my post-radiation story with you because the medical issues that seem to suddenly arise are very distressing. Yet we do adapt. My husband and I continue to camp and travel. No more backpacking for me, but my creaky knees would have put a stop to that, post-radiation distress or not!

I second Anita ~ "congrats to you for being a long time survivor" and thriver. No reason to stop thriving and striving.