Thanks for the replies Sheldon and Gary. The articles were good. I know lack of saliva isn't life threatening BUT it is life altering. If we can transplant hearts, we should be able to do the same with a salivary gland. I wonder why that hasn't been done yet? Is it due to the lack of "knowing" out in the big world about oral cancer and it's after effects?

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.