Hi there,
I am 49 years old female, that was formally diagnosed none HPV tonsil cancer, just couple of weeks ago, having found that in the lymph node originally. I never smoked, drank occasionally and have health diet and life style. had surgery to remove the tonsil and yesterday had a dental assessment pre-Radiotherapy that left me entirely devastated. I always looked after my teeth and had lots of dental work through the years, but the dental consultant suggested that I should remove 4 teeth on one side and 3 on the other, basically most of my molars will be gone! He explained that this is to reduce the risk osteoradionecrosis, but when I asked for the statistics, he told me that is 8% probability, in my case probably higher because I take alendronic acid. The prospect of reconstruction of the teeth is minimal, so I wonder what will happen if I choose to keep my teeth rather than follow the advice because of the 8 % chance. This is my second cancer rodeo, I am in remission for breast cancer and had double mastectomy, so I feel that have very little in the tank to fight this. What is your experience with this as it seems that the quality of life is diminishing following the teeth extraction and the suggested RT and Chemo?
Hi Tulip23
if i was in your position and was sure the teeth under scrutiny are sound i would keep them. But this is just my opinion. I had none out despite being prescribed RT both sides. Two years later I did have to have one wisdom tooth extracted and everything went well.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I had 5 removed wisdom teeth and molar
Were they in bad nick?
Some trusts seem to have them out with gay abandon. My teeth are all heavily restored thanks to industrial quantities of asthma syrup as a youngster but they were left alone.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
