One other thing I'd like to mention is that as I age, I find significant change in my oral cavity. Eating is harder for me, swallowing much much harding and I choke much more frequently. I attribute this to my dry dry DRY mouth. Did I mention I have a dry mouth?? After surgery and treatment my saliva was fairly good, not great, but adequate so I had less problems over all. I'm guessing most people are finding this to be true, or anyway long term survivors. Then the ORN and oh boy what a mess! Thank god for the Vita mix. Those machines are a god send, no question about that. Personally I wouldn't waste my money on anything but the vita mixer. I know they're expensive but a re-furbished one is better than anything else on the market today. Plus they're American made and I like that. Back in the olden days on OCF I didn't go by the name Donnamae. I think I was just Donna or Donna T back then. Its been awhile so I can't remember. I quit posting on OCF not because I didn't want to keep in touch with other survivors but because I needed to move on with my life..... talking and dealing with cancer just got to be too much for me back then. I was only 41 when dx'ed so I just needed to take a break from cancer. Period. I'm a little.... or a lot older now, and again I find myself drawn to the OCF. I think I can be of some help to those now dealing with long term affects of Radiation --- that pesky gift that just likes to keep on giving. HA! Plus I am a 15 year survivor of stage IV tongue cancer so there is hope and life after a cancer diagnoses. And its not all bad either.

Donnamae
Stage IV SSC tongue cancer
lymph node involvement
Radical neck
Cisplatin/5fu
A shit ton of radiation
2009 ORN dx