A few questions

Larrykins · January 2012

I have read every old post about teeth and flouride but still have a question. I use trays with flouracil 20,000ppm 5 mins a day. I asked my rad doc if it was for life and he said no, just until you get some saliva back, probably a few years. Is this true or does it just boil down to personal preference, insurance etc?

Also, when I got necrosis in the flesh at the back of my mouth my oncologist said no way could I go into HBO because oxygen does for cancer what it does for flames. In this case what's the difference if you have tooth extractions? Is it just an acceptable risk?

Finally does anyone have any experience or info on 5HTP? Gp prescribed it to help with anxiety. Have since heard that it may be beneficial to cancer patients. Is this true or just another drug to screw more money out of vulnerable people?

One more thing, the surgeon who did my neck dissection prescribed lymphatic drainage massages. The oncologist I see locally said he didn't like massage as a treatment but could not tell me why. He would not be pushed to explain this. Anyone know the pros and cons of lymph drainage and why my ocologist might not like the idea?

Cheers

Skiffin16 · January 2012

Larry, Larry, Larry....
LOL, just wanted to say that....

There is probably no definitive answer to the flouride question...

I use the OralB STOP flouride gel 2- 3 times aweek...much more for the first year though. I now have nearly 100% of my saliva back, so tend to use it less....never really asked about the longevity.

As for HBO and oxygen feeding cancer, etc.... I think you'll find as many discussions on that as you will that sugar feeds cancer.

I don't necessarily buy in to it...but I'm not a medical professional, and even they have different opinions.

I can't say anything concerning the 5HTP, don't know anything about that one.

Cheers,
John

ratface · January 2012

In disagreement
Your Saliva will be diminished for the rest of your life. Fluoride trays are a good idea as teeth are precious because of the issues arising from radiation and bone degeneration of the jaws. It's preventive, cost effective, and doable with minimal effort. You need a dentist who has experience with head and neck patients.

The oxygen and cancer argument has been debunked by scientific experiments. There is actually some evidence that the opposite is true, that it may in fact help kill cancer cells.

Don't know anything about 5HTP, but was on anti anxiety medication for over one year post treatment and it was lifesaving for me. Don't hesitate to use these medications as they were intended.

Lymphatic massage is very helpful and not at all mysterious. again your Onco person might need to bone up on this. Obviously he/she is an oncologist who doesn't treat breast cancer as it is widely used in this area. It is also used for head and cancer patients and is documented to have positive application. I had several sessions with a trained therapist and found it worthwhile. There are many threads here on "Lymphedema". There is also a national lymphedema registry to find a therapist. You could start with any breast cancer clinic.

fisrpotpe · January 2012

few answers
after dealing with teeth now for 16 years post radiation, i suggest and believe that you should maintain the use of fluoride every day. I not sure i agree with the trays as my specialist took mine away 7 years ago and now have better results in keeping them from decay, so i just brush mine on with a sonicare tooth brush. i also agree if you have radiation to the head and neck you will have a problem with moisture in the mouth. i used trays for the first 9 years and they did very little for me.

i am a believer that HBO is risk for those that have had head and neck cancers. i know some studies have shown it helps and in years to come there might be more proof that is does. i went 12 plus years without any return of my SCC, after having necrosis of the pharynx and being told we know there is a risk but you need HBO. finally i gave in and did the risk reward. went thru 40 treatments and the necrosis was helped. the problem was 6 months post HBO cancer showed up on the back of tongue, seemed like it had been there 3 months and i told doc about it. he looked and said i will biopsy but do not feel it is cancer, 4 days later they told me SCC. easy fix as it was very early on and removed with surgery. experience says alot vs studies.

i have had 6 teeth removed all in the very back both top and bottom all my surgeon tole me is i do not recommend hbo, he goes with antibiotic and watches very close. one months for teeth on bottom and two weeks of meds for the top. he is oral surgeon at university of indiana and deals with alot of radiated patients. both time i followed with antibiotics and have had no problems, keep in mind the healing takes a long time, for example it was 20 months post extraction that he said i feel comfortable now call me only if you have a problem. keep in mind he did charge me for each visit post surgery while he checked out status it was all in the price of surgery.

nothing on 5HTP and massages.

bottoms up.... :-)

john

Larrykins · January 2012

Questions answered
Wow. Now I understand the 'one day at a time' bit.

Thanks very much guys, it all makes sense.

You are right about opinions. Doctors only seem to agree if they both work in the same hospital and, if you believe the media and internet, EVERYTHING gives you cancer and most things can cure it. It's tiring.

I guess being happy with your own decisions based on as much fact as you can find is the key.

I'll never know about the flouride unless I stop and my teeth fall out I suppose. If they fall out while I'm still using them then I might stop. My dentist extracted 6 of his own sister's teeth before she started rads so I guess he has done some research.

Happy for you John that they fixed your tongue. Seems to me one of the few advantages of being on the cancer treadmill is that you are watched so closely that anything that does pop up is going to be caught early. Every cloud...

Larry Larry Larry

P.S. Ratface you are right about my ENT doctor I mentioned for the massage. I completely forgot he isn't actually an oncologist! He was the original surgeon who found my cancer (after having ripped it out unfortunately). I went to him initially because after 3 days of lymph drainage massage my face and neck above the scar ballooned and prevented me breathing properly. He put me on Medrol A (cortisone) which worked like a charm. Trouble is I had to keep taking it or I would return within a day to the feeling of being strangled. After 2 months on it my oncologist said enough is enough. Steroids not good over long periods. I would just have to deal with the effects of radiation with as few meds as possible.

Hal61 · January 2012

In my jumble opinion
Hi Larry,

I'm almost 2 years out of 35 rads, three bucket-size Cisplatin infusions, and a post treatment partial neck dissection, SCC BOT.

I asked my current-but-soon-to-be-former medical onc about teeth. I have lots (relatively)of saliva back fairly early, I told him. Does that bode well for less dental issues in the future? "NO," he said with his Rushmore face, "the damage has already been done." I don't believe he is totally correct.

My dental tech is very high on the ultrasound tooth brush mentioned by P. John. I'm currently using an electric. My dentist prescribed "Prevadent", an RX tooth paste flouride treatment that I haven't used for a year. I plan to start back up.

I'm currently on anti-anxiety Lexapro. I took it for about six months with no result. Doc doubled the dosage, and shazamm, it worked like the commercials on TV picture portray it. I now believe they work. Don't know about yours.

I went to a licensed lymph misogynist for as long as the insurance would allow. She was a decent type, and very high on her specialty, as specialists tend; but the treatments did me little lasting good. My lymph-n-scar field was softer, and smoother after each treatment, but for me the effect lasted for about an hour. According to her, many pratitioners don't get their name on the registry because their is a prohibitive cost, so check local medicine sources also if your insurance allows, and you want to try.

Yes, given the Internet, the world of cancer is indeed entered through the rabbit hole, and those who look too long must prepare to be assimilated.
best, Hal

Larrykins · January 2012

Hal61 said:
In my jumble opinion
Hi Larry,

I'm almost 2 years out of 35 rads, three bucket-size Cisplatin infusions, and a post treatment partial neck dissection, SCC BOT.

I asked my current-but-soon-to-be-former medical onc about teeth. I have lots (relatively)of saliva back fairly early, I told him. Does that bode well for less dental issues in the future? "NO," he said with his Rushmore face, "the damage has already been done." I don't believe he is totally correct.

My dental tech is very high on the ultrasound tooth brush mentioned by P. John. I'm currently using an electric. My dentist prescribed "Prevadent", an RX tooth paste flouride treatment that I haven't used for a year. I plan to start back up.

I'm currently on anti-anxiety Lexapro. I took it for about six months with no result. Doc doubled the dosage, and shazamm, it worked like the commercials on TV picture portray it. I now believe they work. Don't know about yours.

I went to a licensed lymph misogynist for as long as the insurance would allow. She was a decent type, and very high on her specialty, as specialists tend; but the treatments did me little lasting good. My lymph-n-scar field was softer, and smoother after each treatment, but for me the effect lasted for about an hour. According to her, many pratitioners don't get their name on the registry because their is a prohibitive cost, so check local medicine sources also if your insurance allows, and you want to try.

Yes, given the Internet, the world of cancer is indeed entered through the rabbit hole, and those who look too long must prepare to be assimilated.
best, Hal

Toothy grin
Hi Hal,

Found old bottle of 5HTP that I was prescribed before diagnosis and thought I would try it out again but not really on anything. It's basically tryptophan, all-natural, whatever that means. Think I might need something though given my current state of mind. Didn't have a good experience way back in my youth with Prozac so kind or steering away from SSRI's and the like. Think the occasional diazepam and a sleeping pill on the occasions when the thunder in my head gets too loud might be my way to go. I'll speak to my GP (or should I always talk to my oncologist about new drugs now?) and see what she says.

Similar experience with the massage. Never lasted. Thought what the heck though, if it's subsidized, and prescribed I'll keep at it. Either it gave me a massive reaction or it was purely coincidental and I was about to swell up like a bullfrog anyway I don't know. Therapist always said I looked alot better each time I saw him, but then he would I guess.

Very happy to hear you disagree with your doctor for the tooth issue. I would hate to hear that. That kind of answer could make me start smoking again for the same reason!

Take care

Larry

Skiffin16 · January 2012

Larrykins said:
Toothy grin
Hi Hal,

Found old bottle of 5HTP that I was prescribed before diagnosis and thought I would try it out again but not really on anything. It's basically tryptophan, all-natural, whatever that means. Think I might need something though given my current state of mind. Didn't have a good experience way back in my youth with Prozac so kind or steering away from SSRI's and the like. Think the occasional diazepam and a sleeping pill on the occasions when the thunder in my head gets too loud might be my way to go. I'll speak to my GP (or should I always talk to my oncologist about new drugs now?) and see what she says.

Similar experience with the massage. Never lasted. Thought what the heck though, if it's subsidized, and prescribed I'll keep at it. Either it gave me a massive reaction or it was purely coincidental and I was about to swell up like a bullfrog anyway I don't know. Therapist always said I looked alot better each time I saw him, but then he would I guess.

Very happy to hear you disagree with your doctor for the tooth issue. I would hate to hear that. That kind of answer could make me start smoking again for the same reason!

Take care

Larry

Tryptophan, All-Natural
Maybe they milk a Turkey.....LOL, OH...by hand, since it's all natural.

JG

Larrykins · January 2012

Skiffin16 said:
Tryptophan, All-Natural
Maybe they milk a Turkey.....LOL, OH...by hand, since it's all natural.

JG

Tryptophan, All-Natural
Think the turkey milks itself in fact. Very very natural.

longtermsurvivor · January 2012

I'm late to the party, but on the issue of HBO & cancer genesis:
Does hyperbaric oxygen have a cancer-causing or -promoting effect? A review of the pertinent literature.
Feldmeier JJ, Heimbach RD, Davolt DA, Brakora MJ, Sheffield PJ, Porter AT.
SourceDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

Abstract
We reviewed all known published reports or studies related to a possible cancer-causing or growth-enhancing effect by hyperbaric oxygen. Published articles were retrieved using Medline searches for the period 1960-1993. Additional references were obtained from bibliographies included in those articles discovered in the computer search. Also, hyperbaric medicine text books and the published proceedings of international hyperbaric conferences were visually searched. Studies and reports discovered in this fashion and related to the topic were included in the review. Twenty-four references were found: 12 were clinical reports, 11 were animal studies, and 1 reported both an animal study and a clinical report. Three clinical reports suggested a positive cancer growth enhancement, whereas 10 clinical reports showed no cancer growth enhancement. Two animal studies suggested a positive cancer-enhancing effect, and 10 animal studies showed no such effect. (The report that included both animals and humans is counted in both groups). The vast majority of published reports show no cancer growth enhancement by HBO exposure. Those studies that do show growth enhancement are refuted by larger subsequent studies, are mixed studies, or are highly anecdotal. A review of published information fails to support a cancer-causing or growth-enhancing effect by HBO.

A few questions

Comments

Discussion Boards