| | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 62 Supporting Member (50+ posts) |  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 62 | Hi all, My teeth were pretty good before treatment but about a year afterwards, one day a tooth just broke off. That was the beginning. I'm now several teeth lighter, with one permanet bridge and one partial. I have three dentists, a cancer dentist, the root canal dentist and an oral surgeon. They advise me that one day they will all be gone (the teeth, not the dentist, lol) but we want to keep them as long as we can because they say I won't be able to wear dentures due to the lack of saliva and will need implants. Being el cheapo and not wanting to spend the money on implants plus vain enough to not want to run around without teeth, I'm doing everything I can to keep them as long as I can. I'm proud to say I still have sixteen and wonder why I get charged the same price for a cleaning as the guy with 32. What's with that?? Anyway, getting to my question.....I've spoken with the HBO guys and one guy actually told me that it would greatly improve my saliva. Is that true?
DX 6/05 Rt Tonsil SSC advanced to lymph node. Stage 4b. RND, took tonsils, strips off the back of tongue, throat and nose. 19 lymph nodes removed only 1 bad. Once healed, 7 weeks of treatment including 35 IMRT, 7 Cisplatin, 7 Erbitux and 35 nasty Amophostine. Almost 11 yrs out now. Woooo Hoooo!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | I didnt notice any changes in my saliva functioning.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Cup,
Good question and I would keep pressing for the "by tooth" charge. I like your thinking and I agree it should take 1/2 the time and materials so why not 1/2 the "normal" charge?
I started using the Fluoride 1 month before Tx and I still am using it every nite and my dentist says I should for the rest of my life just to be on the safe side.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I didn't notice any change either, and stil have no saliva. Must be the Mojave in there, I'll look in the morning when I brush my mouth with Biotene. Heck, I can look tonite when I brush up on things.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 4 Member | | Member
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 4 | While I am still in radiation treatment for 3 weeks, I have been wearing my upper denture quite easily and plan to have a new lower denture made after treatment. Is is necessary to see a specialist or just a normal dentist? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 |
An oral cancer patient should see a dentist who is very familiar with seeing patients who have had oral cancer. There are specialists available, I think they are called prostiodontists but not sure. After radiation your mouth is different and needs special attention when having anything done. Best of luck with yoru treatments.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Hi Christine,
Close, it's "PROSTHODONTIST"
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 51 "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 51 | Ok Deb, sorry about that.
SCC Base of tongue stage 4. 10 hour operation Radical neck dissection and hemiglossectomy 23/10/06 35 Rad treatments and 3 high dose Cistplatin Dec 06 - Feb 07. Ex casual smoker 6 to 8 a day - casual drinker. Very fit and diet conscious.
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