The news was as miserable as I had feared. They want to remove SIX teeth. I could barely speak to the dentist when she told me. Four of the teeth are wisdom teeth and two others form the side of my smile. I made it past reception, found a quiet(ish) corner and cried. Of course, I know the prospect of being alive is more important than having teeth but my smile makes up a big part of who I am and it feels a particularly cruel side effect - the taking of a smile.
Options to replace the teeth seem limited. Nothing until well after treatment and even then, the best they can offer is a denture. I think they can't do implants because of the effect of the radiotherapy on my bones. Does anybody know if there are other options?
That was the start of the week. The lump in my neck that appeared after surgery seemed to be going down but my Oncologist wanted me to have it scanned to check what was going on. As it had been reducing in size, I had banked on it being a gland swollen from the tonsillectomy but the ultrasound scan revealed it to be another tumour. 8mm. I pretty much repeated my dentist routine. That is, held it together while I was in hospital and cried at the first opportunity. Another damned tumour. Will this never end?
My Macmillan nurse told me not to fret and that it is not uncommon for a node to develop into a tumour at this stage and it is unlikely to change my treatment plan. Don't fret? I feel like cancer is eating away at me. I had feared starting treatment, now I can't wait to get started.
FormerMember
Hi Fulham,
Get started with your treatment first. Thats the first priority once you see how the treatment goes,then
you can start worrying about your teeth. Remember your teeth can be replaced your life cant. All the best and Good Luck.
sorry to hear your news I know it must be a terrible blow as I am in a similar position the only thing we can do is face it.
I have skin cancer and had 5 nodes removed from my neck in january and hoped that would be the end of it but was told due to spread I would need radiotherapy and because of it had to have 3teeth removed to make matters worst I got a gum infection so the 3 weeks I should have had to enjoy my food before radio have been marred by an already sore mouth so take care the same doesn't happen to you.
I start my radiotherapy on28th having just had my face mask made and my final fitting on friday so am probably a bit in front of you so will keep an eye out for you and see how you are going. by the way you can not see where my teeth have been taken out so hopefully you won't be able to see where yours have gone
Thank you for your comments. I am very sorry to hear of your situation. Having other members of your family with health conditions is a tough call and I wish you all well.
I was interested to hear you have chosen not to have a PEG. I was very against the idea too but my medical team and partner have convinced me otherwise. I put a message on the board (see: Refusing a PEG0 looking for somebody in a similar situation to our own that had undergone treatment without a PEG hoping to argue my point that I wouldn't need one. I could find only one person that had completed treatment without having one and even they admitted it was a struggle. I am slowly coming to accept that I will probably need one but I've asked for the smaller tube size and am insisting it goes in and comes out as soon possible.
The teeth thing I am still finding very upsetting. I am quite a smiley person (well, maybe not so much in the last few weeks) and I have to do presentations for work.
There is something quite comforting to know somebody else will be going through RT around the same time. Makes the experience feel a little less... lonely. Please let me know how you get on. I can't have my mask fitted until I've had the teeth removed and the swelling has gone down. Am due to have the smile removed next Friday. :-(
Sometimes drastic measures have to be taken to deal with this bloody disease and although it is very upsetting to lose teeth, saving your life is the priority. Tell yourself it won't be forever and I'm sure there will be options when the time comes. Of course, being told of another tumour was a double blow, but the treatment will deal with it and the sooner you start, the more positive and in control you will feel. You have got cancer but it hasn't got you, so although you are experiencing many emotions at present, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With your supportive partner by your side, I am sure you will find the strength to see you through the months ahead.
Sorry to hear your predicament is much as you thought it would be, dont worry you will still you at the end of the day and people will have to take you as you are, i am sure your personality will shine through, and for those that care, you will just be you.
However i do know how you feel as my dentist removed a tooth in error and not only buggered my smile, but also affected the feeling in my left side of the face and mouth two years ago!
