Hi Malwicker, and welcome -- I'm sorry for all you've gone through and are going through now. You sound feisty and I think that's very much in your favor

I would guess that "breeding" may have been "debriding," removal of dead tissue and bone.

Your story is further evidence that the scan situation needs to change, especially for HPV + patients. There was further research presented at a recent conference regarding HPV + cancers showing up at distant, unexpected sites 5 years out. Will try to find the link.

My insurance company denied even ONE post-treatment scan and my doc had to fight all the way to a call with the ins. co. medical director. I think the resistance to scans is coming from insurance companies in some or perhaps most cases.

My thoughts are with you, stay strong --

Lynn

Malwicker, thank you for the warning about vaso-constricting drugs (I myself am a self-trained monkey with the jargon). I'm adding it to my list of long-term issues to be on the watch for.

Here's a link to a study presented at the February HNCC conference that found distant mets later than typical and in atypical locations among a small sample of HPV+ oropharangeal survivors. I think this justifies more frequent scans over more years, contrary to the current trends limiting scans. These mets aren't going to be found through palpation!

http://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(13)03340-3/fulltext

For the truly geeky -- you know who you are -- here's a link to abstracts of all the HNCC papers presented at the conference -- scroll down to "Head and Neck Supplement":

http://www.redjournal.org/issues?issue_key=S0360-3016%2813%29X0017-3

Please check out the Vitamin E with your MO - at least when my husband was under treatment, there has a correlation with vitamin E and recurrence; I can probably find the study if you like. Maybe Vitamin E has been cleared for use since, but its worth a question. Supplements that help normal tissue may also help cancer.
Maria

Wow I am overwhelmed with all the responses. Mamacita Lynn I suddenly have so much to read. Bart your treatment method is fascinating. I'm glad it is going well for you. I will keep in mind the warning on vitamin E
Thank you everyone.

Welcome to OCF. Ive been reading your posts and the replies. Im sorry I havent had enough time to write to you until now. I have considerable experience with HBO. If you have questions please feel free to ask and I will hopefully be able to help you.

As far as ORN, if nothing is done it will only get worse. Better to treat it while it is small and easier to control. Sometimes only a minor surgery in the office is enough to take care of ORN. HBO should be done according to the Marx Protocol (20 prior to and 10 after the procedure). This is only done if no sign of cancer is present as cancer LOVES oxygen and thrives in that environment.

Best wishes!

I forgot about vitamin E. it's said vitamin E, Beta Carotene can promote early cancers in the lungs, but that could be lung cancer, not sure about metastases from other areas. It's also said in some reports vitamin E can inpact survival in head and neck cancer when receiving radiation therapy, but like Maria said, not sure if any thought about antioxidants has changed, have seen some that said yes, but your doctors will know best.

It was thought tumors thrive in highly oxygenated areas, I guess in tumor surgery oxgen pressure matters, but they now say tumors thrive in hypoxic tissue when the tumor spreads, angiogenesis. That's my question to my doctors with HBOT, and wonder if it's the old school thought or their thinking about blood supply to feed the tumor...more confusion lol.

Thanks for the links Mamacita.

Here is information on ORN, to help you as a guide through the process to discuss with your doctors.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/851539-overview

Yes more confusion. Scheduled for debridement at oral surgeon tomorrow. Not sure what is appropriate to do about wisdom tooth that needs extraction, ugh. Decision will be made tomorrow at 8am.

A link to the Forum Etiquette has been brought to my attention and I see that I've started a thread where I should have just wrote a simple introduction. My apologies gang.

The forum etiquette link was sent to you (and all new members) so everyone can easily learn how to navigate the forum and add their signature. As I explained in the PM, it has detailed instructions on how to make a signature. Having a signature is VERY important around here and will only help you to get replies. You are just fine continuing to post on your thread.

Good luck tomorrow!!!

Two teeth pulled last Thursday, and some bone removed from "hole" where tooth on bottom jaw was. This would be directly above site of exposed bone, and oral surgeon said it had to go to get to site. I didn't like this, but it was a little difficult to mull it over when already sitting in the dentist's chair. I have mouth full of stitches and have been on oxycodone since, otherwise I would have updated sooner. I still see exposed bone in my mouth, so there will be another procedure in near future. I'm a left a little confused by the whole mess and I don't like it. We'll be making me more enlightened tomorrow when I see onc doc and dentist.

Good luck, Malwicker!