I have a very good friend who underwent radiation for pharyngeal cancer approx.10 mos ago. He has recently made a trip to the dentist,who is suprised that the radiologist never informed my friend to get a dental check up first.Now he has to get his teeth pulled and dentures.First he has to receive hyperbaric oxygen treatments to prevent bone loss.I am angered he was not warned of the dental implications first.Anyone out there ever have to get dental treatment or HBO treatments after radiation?
Thanks
vic49

Having all his teeth pulled after having radiation IS A BAD IDEA. He needs to get other opinions and options before he proceeds with this. Why the radiology oncologist didn't address this is unusual, I have never heard of this before, as they all know what the potential down side is to not getting your dental issues in line before having radiation treatments.

I don't know how the medical system works in the US. In the hospital where I was treated, it was the oncologist who arranged a dental check pre radiation and the dentist would sign on a paper giving green light to the radiation department. The oncologist and radiologist then work together to decide on the schedule of radiation. So it is beyond my comprehension that your friend has not had a pre-radiation dental check. Someone has to be held responsible for such negligence leading to unnecessary extraction of teeth.

Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/01.

Hi Vic,
The NCCN practice guidelines http://www.nccn.org/ call for a dental evaluation and full mouth x-ray (panorex) as part of the pre-treatment workup. The objective being to avoid the exact same situation your friend is in and avoidance of risk of osteoradionecrosis (ORN). It is unconscionable to me that this wasn't done. I would contact an attorney specializing in malpractice suits. Maybe the insurer will cover the cost of HBO.