The "Radio Wrinkles" are pretty common I think. The IMRT might cause it more, because it had a fairly consistant demarcation between radiated skin and un-radiated skin. The only thing I have found that really helps is laughter!! Smiling and laughter change those 'aging' wrinkles into laugh lines and smile lines. And, who cares about wrinkles when you are smiling!

More literally, the muscles in the lower part of the face don't get used much by folks like us, expecially if we aren't smiling much, and not chewing as much, or even talking as much. Radiated muscles do lose elasticity and range of motion. Sometimes that range and tone are recovered, but often not completely - and sometimes not at all.

Perhaps the wrinkled mouth is the purple heart of radio treatment. It is certainly a sign of courage and character. Be strong. Tom