Barb, Marcia and Mark, thank you for the welcome. In the time I have spent here today reading I have harvested a wealth of new knowledge.

As for the teeth, if I had not revisited my regular dentist yesterday I would have lost four teeth instead of only three. I went to see him regarding possible implants and or bridge work to replace them so that I could still chew food. Previous bone loss and the radiation is going to rule out those possibilities. He called and talked with the oral surgeon and talked him out of one extraction. Unfortunately the others will have to be removed, but one "chewer" will be left intact.

I just now returned from the gastroenterologist's office and will be having a PEG put in on the 19th. I guess that next up should be a call to the medical oncologist to discuss whether or not to have a port put in.

On a brighter note, one of the massage therapists from next door to my office just popped in today and gave me a half hour massage. She told me that her boss told all of them to drop in on me whenever they felt like it, even if only for a few minutes. I think I am going to really appreciate that gesture of good will.