How soon did treatment start? Dental issues first

I did not have to wait too long. I started treatment a little over a month after I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer, but the doctor told us it is a very slow-growing cancer and that even if we had to wait 9 months it would be okay. Ask the doctors about that.

Welcome to Connect @coleva. I know how hard it is to wait for treatment to begin. I had head and neck radiation and the medical staff were insistent on making certain that oral issues are under control so as to avoid ill effects from the radiation. Hopefully the dental team will move along quickly to get things going for him. My tumor was more aggressive in nature by the time it was diagnosed so treatment moved along quickly. I was about 6 weeks after my surgery that my radiation/chemo started. I agree with maratay that the doctors can address your concerns about any delay.

Thank you for sharing

Thank you. I’m glad you were able to get started quickly.

It is my understanding they would like patients to start radiation within 6 weeks of surgery. However, they also prefer the patient to be completely healed as the radiation can cause problems in those healing areas. I started my 60 Gy radiation course 45 days after my surgery mainly due to initial insurance payment issues.

Yes, I sure did.
So I had to have my wisdom teeth extracted as well as my molars because two were crowns and a couple had fillings.
Because I was stage IV when I was diagnosed my oncologist wanted no time wasted.
My dentist pulled some strings and the oral surgeon got me in immediately, in fact, he and his assistant came in two hours before they opened to perform my extractions!

Once the extractions are completed you have to wait a minimum of 21 days before cancer treatments can begin…this is assuming that you are healed up completely in the 21 days.

Hope this helped

MOJO

Thank you for sharing.

Sounds like you had an excellent oral surgeon that was willing to go the extra mile for you. That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing.

And to top it off…
When I was finished, I went to the counter to pay my bill because my insurance didn’t cover the extractions the lady said “you don’t have a bill, a citizen of the county paid your bill yesterday!”

I was a Deputy Sheriff K-9 handler and the word of my cancer spread throughout our county…
A woman that actually donated over $15,000 for the purchase of my last dog paid my dental bill as well!

Then, my dentist and his staff blessed me with a 2 molar partial after my treatments were complete!

MOJO

Welcome, @maratay. What treatment are you currently getting? How are you doing?