Having to have my teeth extracted prior to Radiation???

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Matt29
Matt29 Member Posts: 62
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
So to top things off of having cancer now i'm told that i have to have all of my teeth removed before starting treatment so like Monday they want to do that and then the following Monday they want me to start chemo which i thought chemo and radiation are done together and i'm scared that my body's immune system will be wore down so bad it won't have time to recover between surgery and then having poison put in my body i'm getting depressed all over again i have to go without any teeth until the treatment is not only done but gums heal up and then more pain for implants.

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  • George_Baltimore
    George_Baltimore Member Posts: 303
    #2
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    Welcome to the club
    Hi Matt, Hang in there. I had to do the same thing back in 2004. It may take a while but you will get used to it. Just keep thinking to yourself, "no more hearing the dentist's drill inside my mouth." I got dentures which are alot less expensive than implants. Once again, it takes some time to get used to it but you'll do just fine.
  • Irishgypsie
    Irishgypsie Member Posts: 333
    #3
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    Are your teeth bad?
    Your teeth must be in bad shape. I am almost two years out and didn't have my teeth pulled! What condition are your teeth in? I disagree with these other folks; you are too young!!!!!!! Go get second opinion right away!!!!!

    Charles
  • CherriBlossom
    CherriBlossom Member Posts: 44 Member
    #4
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    I was about same age as you
    I was about same age as you when I was DX was stage 4 NPC but did not have any teeth extracted. Based on your age, I would get 2nd opinion just to be sure.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #5
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    That used to be the standard recommendation
    but it is not any longer, unless you have a lot of dental problems already. My first radiation was 14 years ago. I didn't have any teeth pulled. I have lost one tooth since rads. Generally speaking, it is wise to have a dental opinion from a dentist who is well versed at modern radiation treatment of the oral cavity. I'm not saying you don't have such a dentist, but if you don't, you may be overtreated. My original cancer resulted in the same recommendation you got, to extract all my teeth. The fact that we didn't do that was because the ENT oncologist sent me to a university based dentist who treated lots of chemo and rads patients. He found this not to be necessary for me.



    Pat
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #6
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    George_Baltimore said:

    Welcome to the club
    Hi Matt, Hang in there. I had to do the same thing back in 2004. It may take a while but you will get used to it. Just keep thinking to yourself, "no more hearing the dentist's drill inside my mouth." I got dentures which are alot less expensive than implants. Once again, it takes some time to get used to it but you'll do just fine.

    you will do fine
    Matt, I also lost all of my teeth. I already had upper dentures, but had to have all the rest pulled b/4 my radiation started last year. I now have dentures, that I am still getting used to but like George says....never have to have a tooth filled again.

    To clarify, my teeth were in bad shape already and I was 55. You should get a 2nd opinion for sure.
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35
    #7
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    Teeth
    Hi Matt,
    I went through 42 Radiation Treatments + Chemo without getting my teeth pulled. But the Radiation completely ruined my teeth & now I'm having to get all my teeth pulled & going to Dentures. I kinda wish I had of had my teeth pulled before I started the Radiation because now I'll have to go 6 weeks without any teeth before I can get fitted for my dentures. That means another 6 weeks on soft food. I lost 90 pounds while on the tube feeding while on Radiation. Well at least I can get away from the formula & eat soft foods. I've been through it all because the Radiation & Chemo failed to kill the cancer & I had to have my voice box removed. I'm now just starting to learn to talk with the Voice Prrosthesis. I know what you are going through but you can do it, a lot of us here are pulling for you so keep your head up & try to look at the bright side.
    Roger
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35
    #8
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    teeth
    oops
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #9
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    Another Opinion...
    Matt, I would seriously consider reading Pat (Longtermsurvivor) post.

    Like he mentioned, this was pretty much the old standard...way back.

    I have known one person that had to go this route, but like Charles mentioned he already had a history of bad teeth.

    So unless you already have issues, I'd seriously seek another opinion concerning the teeth.

    I did have my teeth checked out prior (MD recommendation), no teeth pulled.

    I'm no where close to being out of treatment as long as Pat.. I'm going on three years post treatment. I've only had a crown and no cavities since treatment which included sixteen weeks of chemo, seven of which were concurrent with 35 daily rads.

    As far as chemo and radiation being done together, it all depends on your treatment plan.

    Myself STGIII HPV+ Tonsil Cancer and a lymhnode, had nine weeks of chemo in three week cycles (Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU), then seven weeks of concurrent weekly Carboplatin, and 35 daily rads.

    Several on here have had various mixtures of treatmens ranging from surgery (dissesctions), chemo and radiation or any combination of the three.

    So that aspect of treatment is not really uncommon in your treatment plan.

    Best,
    John
  • aluo1271
    aluo1271 Member Posts: 25
    #10
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    The dentists may be
    The dentists may be concerned about existing cavities getting worse during treatment. It's a bit extreme but could be an easiest and safest way if you are under time pressure. Healing an existing cavity require weeks.
  • aluo1271
    aluo1271 Member Posts: 25
    #11
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Another Opinion...
    Matt, I would seriously consider reading Pat (Longtermsurvivor) post.

    Like he mentioned, this was pretty much the old standard...way back.

    I have known one person that had to go this route, but like Charles mentioned he already had a history of bad teeth.

    So unless you already have issues, I'd seriously seek another opinion concerning the teeth.

    I did have my teeth checked out prior (MD recommendation), no teeth pulled.

    I'm no where close to being out of treatment as long as Pat.. I'm going on three years post treatment. I've only had a crown and no cavities since treatment which included sixteen weeks of chemo, seven of which were concurrent with 35 daily rads.

    As far as chemo and radiation being done together, it all depends on your treatment plan.

    Myself STGIII HPV+ Tonsil Cancer and a lymhnode, had nine weeks of chemo in three week cycles (Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU), then seven weeks of concurrent weekly Carboplatin, and 35 daily rads.

    Several on here have had various mixtures of treatmens ranging from surgery (dissesctions), chemo and radiation or any combination of the three.

    So that aspect of treatment is not really uncommon in your treatment plan.

    Best,
    John

    Hi John, do you wear mouth
    Hi John, do you wear mouth tray during radiation for the dental crown you have?
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
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    aluo1271 said:

    Hi John, do you wear mouth
    Hi John, do you wear mouth tray during radiation for the dental crown you have?

    King Me...
    Actually the crown I was referring was after treatment....

    Though I did have a root canal/crown and another crown before treatment along with several fillings. These were all over many years prior to being Dx & Tx.

    As for your question, NO, they didn't have me wear anything concerning the hardware already in my mouth.

    It also didn't flag my dentist, oral surgeon, or treatment MD's concerning pulling any teeth prior.

    JG
  • Tonsil Dad
    Tonsil Dad Member Posts: 488
    #13
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    aluo1271 said:

    The dentists may be
    The dentists may be concerned about existing cavities getting worse during treatment. It's a bit extreme but could be an easiest and safest way if you are under time pressure. Healing an existing cavity require weeks.

    Teeth
    Prior to my treatment (33 rad sessions) I had a full mouth overhaul, 4 crowns,
    3 wisdom teeth pulled , 2 fillings and a deep cleaning. Then I had to wait three
    Weeks for the gums to heal then I coud start treatment.
    Hopefully now I won't have any problems, just got to keep a good dental hygene
    and hope nothing arises until the mouth can be worked on again without any
    Complications.

    God bless
    Tonsil Dad,

    Dan.

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