Becky,

OC is not all that common of a cancer and there is a good deal of variation in OC.

Most NCI designated CCC's cancer centers don't really see that many new cases a year. Only a handful diagnose over 200 cases a year and most less that half that.

Up until recently the best RT machines (IGRT/IMRT) could only treat about 70 patients a year (on a single shift basis) and for OC I would want a really good machine with an excellently programmed treatment plan.

So I encourage you to get other opinions and eventually work with a treatment team that routinely handles OC cases or at least is very well affiliated with a center that does.

These days, pulling all the teeth should not be done unless the teeth are real bad or the location and invasiveness of the cancer requires it.

In my case the CCC's dental center just snap a panoramic xray. A DDS of Prosthodontics reviewed it and did an oral exam. He told me my teeth were fine. They then cast the molds for my fluoride trays. Likewise, I have a few crowns, root canals and fillings.

Becky, you mention SE Medical Center, so probably the closest accredited CCC to you is Baylor in Dallas. It is a designated NCI cancer center of excellent repute and handles over fifty new OC cases a year. I strongly advise you to consider getting a second opinion from Baylor and ask their opinion about local care and treatment back in Oklahoma (Durant Oklahoma?).

Just the opinion of a Ole Texas Aggie


Don
TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary
FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm
PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm
HiRes CT 6/21/08
Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08
PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08
35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo
Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11