I'm 36. Before I began radiotherapy I had to have 4 teeth removed. 2 at the back on top and bottom. All 4 were healthy. I've only ever had one filling. The reason they removed them was to prevent further issues if they need removing further down the line. Because the radio weakens the area, there's a chance I'd bleed out. It was then that I cried for the first time. Healthy teeth removed through no fault of my own. That was hard to take. It wasn't pleasant. I got married the day after as well.

There is a reason for tooth extraction before radio. 

Good luck. Keep in touch

Hi 

Thanks for the reply my back teeth are extracted a while ago lol so hopefully im good to go. my ent surgeon reckons i wont need anything drastic but i suppose i have to trust the doctors and hope all goes well.

How are you feeling at the moment post therapy. did you also have chemo?

I had 3 doses of chemo and 33 doses of radio (not to bore anyone with this but years ago I went through a phase of waking up at 3:33 every morning for nearly a month. So when it was 3 chemo and 33 radio, it took me back a bit). My teeth were 10 days before radio to allow them to heal. I developed dry socket which wasn't nice. I've also developed a fistula recently. 

I've had to trust my doctors throughout this and I have done. I've also had a positive attitude through it all. Doctors have said a positive mind is one of the most powerful tools we can have so that's a comfort as well. 

Post therapy has been difficult. Learning to eat and chew again after living off shakes for so long was a task. I've also got trismus now meaning my jaw has lost a lot of opening. It can be reversed with exercise but I'm doubtful. Lymphoedema as well (facial swelling). Something else permanent but can be helped with massage. I'm learning to deal with a lot but the enthusiasm to do the massage and exercises just isn't there to be honest. 

Each individual is different. At the worst, the pain was a 10. I won't lie. The blisters and ulcers were excruciating. And considering I've also had a brain haemorrhage, I can compare the pains. The radio itself is painless. It's the damage it causes. I have sinus cancer so it was aimed at my cheek, hence the ulcerations to my mouth. I'd say I'm about 85% recovered. I'm back eating foods although my belly is the size of a walnut now so the kids eat bigger portions than me.

I have scans booked on the 17th. I won't know anything until the results come back. I won't lie, I'm scared. 

Thanks for sharing your experience and i hope you get great news on the 17th.  One of my tumors is on the back of my throat near where my tonsil used to be and ive also had the lining of my tongue base removed so i can only imagine how sore this is going to be. 

I'm a bit worried about how long its all taking as the cancer is already in one of my lymph nodes and worried it's going to spread. i've had an enlarged lymph node since about may this year.  At last scan about 4 weeks ago( pet / ct ) scan it was confirmed the cancer was only in the one node in my neck. Hopefully It wont spread before radiotherapy starts.