Teeth

Hello Wendym‍ 

It is a standard procedure that prior to going for the radiation treatments, you have to see a dentist at the cancer hospital.  The radiation and could lead to serious problems if there are bad teeth in the mouth prior to starting treatment.  I know when I went, it turned out that I did not need any pulled, but certainly have heard of other folks who have.  

What type of cancer did your husband get diagnosed with?  Is the treatments 35 treatments of radiation and 3 of Cisplatin?

You will find this is a great forum to read up about other folks who have gone through or going through what your husband is going to.

Sincerely,


James

Thank you James, he has tonsil cancer and we have to meet with doctors again this week. He was getting the robotic surgery Friday and then the doctor suddenly decided not to do it. Now we are completely confused and frustrated.

Wendym‍ , How annoying and frustrating, having the doctor change the plan like that. I don't know why that happened, but maybe the case was discussed by a tumour board. You know, when a group of doctors and specialists discuss an individual case, to come up with the best treatment?  Maybe the new plan will be better than the original plan.  When are you seeing the doctor again?

JamesT‍ 

Hello Wendym‍ 

You hubby has what I had.  My cancer was just to the right of my tonsil.

In the very beginning, when I was going to the hospital to see the oncologist and the appointments were set up with the dentist and to have the pet scan, I also had been set up by the doctor at the walk in clinic to see a surgeon who specializes in head and neck.  

This was in July 2017.

The surgeon said that it is not common to go in and have surgery for what I had, but that it might be possible through a clinical trial, and he could look into seeing if I could be a candidate for it.

When I was talking to my oncologist at the hospital about it, he suggested the route they were taking with radiation and chemo is an approach that has lots of success.  And it's a clinical trial with surgery.  Ultimately it wasn't a choice for me to choose as the surgeon said that I wasn't able to participate.  Just as well, everything worked great.  Not to say what the best way or approach is, just wanted to share what I went through.

Sincerely,


James