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
You will smile again!! You can't see wisdom teeth when you smile and the others are on the side so it is not as bad as it could be. You will feel better I am sure when the treatment starts and you are fighting this vile disease. You are a handsome pair and I am sure a few teeth won't change that! I think the love that shines thru your photos will carry you both through this awful stage of your life.
I had surgery last week for nasal and palate cancer I felt like you let me keep my teeth! I like you do presentations etc and it was my worst nightmare! I still have them:) but my life is more important so if they do come out after radiothrrapy so what ? I go back in three weeks then find out when therapy starts so you may begin before me. Baby food is where it's at ! I just want to chomp on normal food again and it's only been a week ! I'm staying strong and you will! Just picture yourself as you want to be in a few months still smiling !
I know how you feel when cancer changes the way you look. I had massive abdominal surgery and I now have a large stomach. I am 56 and have always been slim and petit. I had some nerves removed which restricts my walking quickly and causes some general pain so I have put on some weight during the past year since I had the operation. It takes me ages to choose clothes because I need to find things that make me look slimmer than I am! It;s just a horrible illness that touches every single part of life and none of it in a positive way. It is amazing how people cope against the odds.
You may loose your teeth, but as long as your eyes are smiling you'll be fine! I know it's difficult but please try to have positive thoughts: treatment will give you life, dentists will replace your teeth.
(I will be thinking of you next Friday - you are not alone).
