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Head & Neck cancer

ajax1956 — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 10:28:05 GMT

Hi My Name is Allan

I have been Diagnosed with neck cancer from an unknown source every step on this journey has been different from the initial diagnosis to seeing the specialists I have had 6 biopsies and a biopsy on the base of my tongue and tonsil area we are waiting for the results to come back.

but to the ENT doctors credit they referred me to the Nepean cancer clinic which I met with the radiation oncologists last Thursday what a breath of fresh air the team were waisting no time in getting my therapy started.

I will be having radiation therapy over 7 weeks with chemotherapy in conjunction with it ,

I have already had the mask fitted for the therapy and have to have peg surgery as well to be sure I get the nutrition I need during the treatment

this my story so far

Re: Head & Neck cancer

TUnners1 — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 22:44:02 GMT

HI Allen

How did it all go for you.

I start on Monday mine is on the tonsil

Re: Head & Neck cancer

Stell87 — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:01:44 GMT

I had a tumor hiding behind my left tonsil.

We did high dose radiation and cysplatin chemo .That was in 2016 at the RBWH..

THANK YOU RBWH.

Now in 2025 my left lower jaw is dying..

Effects of radiation and a tooth extraction 2 years ago..

Now the good surgeon s at the RBWH want to put my fibula in my jaw..

I so nervous..

But just thought I would warn you.

Look after your teeth no extractions are going to be positive

Take care Stella

Re: Head & Neck cancer

OzStu — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:56:08 GMT

Hi Stella

For all those who have had radiation to jaw. If you are going to have tooth extractions find a dentist who will prescribe pentoxifyline. Dose is 800mg per day taken with vitimin E 1000mg per day. Preferably starting a couple of weeks before extraction and continueing until xrays show socket has filled with new bone. So three or four months. I was on it when I had molars pulled from high radiatoin area and the dentist remarked that my blood flow there was as good, if not better then someone who had never had radiation, and things healed up normally, maybe even faster then normal. Also, I got a near infra red light, and used that on the area daily for 15 mins. It only took a week for the sockets to close, and three months later xrays showed sockets full of new bone material. I even had implants done there later, same routine, and they healed perfectly. Unfortunately a few years later I got a new cancer on gum that spread into jaw bone, so I lost the jaw and the teeth anyway. 😞

If you want to really turbo charge your healing, mild hyperbaric oxygen treatment can help. I have been doing it since my radiation treatment and jaw reconstruction using fibula free flap. Costs me $70 per one hour session. The pressure is 1.5 times atmospheric pressue and breathing oygen through a mask. I have four treatments to go, the radiation onc is astounded at how well and fast I have healed. If you must have teeth extracted post radiatoin, I would suggest pentoxifyline, vitimin E, plus hbo, and near ifrared light. Your chances of getting ORN will be massively reduced. I will have had 30 hbo sessions when I'm finished. Hbo apparently causes the development of new capilaries in irradiated tissue. This means you have permantely improved blood supply and that will mean less chance of late onset side affects years down the road. Many of the late onset side affects are caused by poor blood supply and low oxyben levels in the tissue. All of these treatments, pento, red light, hbo, improve blood flow in irradiated tissue, but only hbo grow new capilaries and results in permanent improvement. The others result in improvement only while you continue them.

Re: Head & Neck cancer

Stell87 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:06:10 GMT

Thank you for that detailed information.

I will remember that in the event that I have to have other teeth removed..

My radiation, chemo and teeth extraction all were performed at the RBWH.

They are brilliant but I dint think we used the pentixifiyline ,drats🤪

The next procedure they suggest due to the fractured osteoneucrosis jaw is a free Flap.

It will be a portion of my left mandible using my right fibula.

Do you have any more detailed information regarding your free flap operation..

I'm wondering should I or shouldn't I??

At the moment I can't bite I can't chew I can't really open my mouth..I'm not in a lot of pain just a bit at night or my nerve grabs me randomly but I'm still intact...

Hmmmmm🤔

Re: Head & Neck cancer

Stell87 — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:08:53 GMT

Gotta love their sense of urgency..
We are very fortunate to have a great medical system here in Australia..
Take care
Stella