A big HI to all,
I hope everyone is geared up for the forthcoming festivals and have their programmes ready and ensured nothing goes wrong. I am pretty sure nothing will.

I have been reading everyone posts and find some strange and some leave me wondering. I think its best I explain in a little more detail. The cancer was in the stage IV when it was diagnosed and it did not seem to be a good idea not to have surgery done but I stuck to my guns and got my treatment the way I wnated it done. I have been meaning to ask this but the last time I did - I never received any proper replies and hope this time around I do. These are just two questions and hopefully someone should have some answer - and be serious!!!

In the first instance, the radiation. From what I see - it affects the teeth and the throat in a major way. The radiation I recieved was double the dosage what a human being can actually withstand in his lifetime and the amount I received was enough to kill me - how come it did not? I also undertand the teeth are affected but I had no damage to mine and in fact can open a coke bottle with my teeth!

Chemo - my first reaction when I was told about chemo, I thought here goes my hair and though I knew it would grow back, I did not really relish the idea. To everyones surprise, I did not loose a strand of hair and it remained just as it was and still continues to remain as it was.What could have happened?

Do get back,
Love you all,
Ananth

Hi Ananth my friend

I'm not sure about the hair but we was told if teeth were good then they would probably be ok. My son had perfect healthy strong teeth and he still has. He did have to have a wisdom tooth out but that was all. Does it not depend on which chemo you have as to if you will lose your hair? I was told some chemo causes hair loss and some doesn't.

Love to you

Mum
xxx

Hi Ananth, the teeth I've got left are still ok after RT. Hagg.

Good Morning from Oz Ananth,
I have been reading everyones latest post and thought I would reply to yours.
When Darrel was having R/t and chemo we were told a couple of things. If you had trouble with your teeth before r/t you would continue to do so. His teeth have always been a bit weak and since r/t they are still very weak, he can break or crack a tooth very easy now and is always careful what he eats so this won't happen. We do have alot of trips to the dentist though.
On the chemo we were told that he was having pure platinum and this type of chemo won't cause your hair to fall out. Apparently there are many types of chemo used depending on your cancer and not all will cause hair loss.
So I hope that has helped you with your questions and that is just a little of what we learnt through our journey.
While I'm on here I would like to wish all my friends a very Merry Christmas and the very best of blessings for 2008!
I know I haven't posted for a long time but I always keep up to date with reading about all of you. Chelle - I just love your new picture with your little devil horns, you look so well. SusieR so pleased you are plodding along well, Trev and Deborah you are just so strong enjoyed reading some of your responses to Ananth's cheeky debates. Robert and Sue I hope your year next year is great, Alan I keep looking out for more news from you,you and your family are in my prayer,s all the time. Sounds like Liz your in a great place for a holiday at the moment so continue to enjoy your days and have a cocktail on me.
Once again Merry Christmas to all, God Bless.
Tracey xxxxx ho ho ho

I suppose the standard medical answer would be "we are all different".

Some people have had very severe burns with radiation, and some have not. Could this be anything to do with skin pigmentation ?? Just like some people can stand piping hot tea or hot spicy curries - I can't and my skin burns in the sun too, if I'm not careful. My skin is obviously similar to mum's and she had terrible burns on the outside of her neck and inside her mouth.

As for the Chemo - my friend had chemo for bowel cancer and never lost one strand of hair, so yes, it does depend on which chemo you have.

HI Ananth,

I can't speak to Chemo I did not have to endure that treatment.

However my teeth did suffer and still do. Just yesterday the last but one crown on my upper gum gave up the ghost and my denture is in getting both repaired and the additional tooth put on. I have been under the care of the Restoritive folk at the Maxiofacial unit at my local hospital almost since the end of my treatment 12 years ago. I am left today with 4 crowns one upper three lower and one original molar upper, I have partial dentures upper and lower.

Maggie lost all her teeth when a teenager so this will not be an issue for her. She cannot take chemo so likewise, but I will keep you informed of other side effects as they appear. Maggie cannot have surgery but would have elected to refuse such treatment as you did so did not have to make the decision which in your case was very courageous in my opion.

Soon be off from work to collect Maggie for her 3rd treatment.

Speak again later, Alan

Hi! Winnie,
I went through a similar route to you and had some burns on the outside of my neck and in my throat, however the Hospital supplied me with a cream((Kenkay Skin Relief Sorbolene) which I or Deb applied 3 or 4 times a day to the areas that were being Radiatedeven after my RT/Chemo finished I still applied the cream and it was bloody fantastic by healing the skin so quickly, I still occasionaly apply it as some times my skin seems to be a bit tight and dry.
As for hot drinks I have to have cold water put into my coffee as I can't take hot stuff down my throat, and being an ex red head I burn if I am out in the sun to long, so maybe we are related( Hi! Sis)
I hope this has been of some assistance, stay in touch.
Love TREV

Hello Alan!
It's so good to hear from you. Each day I've been looking, looking in the hope of hearing how things are progressing for you and Maggie.
So she isn't having chemo? And no surgery. I guess then she is into her 3rd r/t.
Good luck to you both with that. Keep us posted, I really miss your input.
Love
Deborah

Thank you all for possible answers - it is a kind of relief to hear that I am not alone.

Dear Alan,
Really missing you on rdoc. Keep us updated ... please.
Tons of love and big bear hugs,
Ananth

An explanation of why some have a problem with their teeth and others don't:

The parotid glands are the main saliva producing glands in the mouth. They are often in the field of irradiation from radiotherapy to the posterior mandible and upper neck. They contain two kinds of cells, mucus and serous which 'give up' at differing rates. Initially the serous cells stop and the quality of saliva looses its 'water' and become stringy. Then even the mucus cells stop and the mouth is dry. The remaining lesser glands do try to compensate (people vary) but it doesn't count for much and 'xerostomia' ensures.

Both the quantity and quality of saliva are affected. The saliva becomes more acidic and the teeth dissolve, not unlike tooth decay but a faster rate affecting the areas where plaque is missed most often, between the teeth and the necks of teeth (here the enamel is thinner). The rapid decay weakens the crowns of the teeth and they break off. The decay is not thought to be a direct effect of the irradiation.

So over and above the oral health you start with, depending on whether the parotid glands are affected or not, the rigor of oral hygiene practiced and the individual's quality of tooth, there can be different outcomes of what appears to be similar modalities of treatment.

Now I get it. Thankyou Dr Joshi.

Lorraine

Dear Dr. Joshi,
That does give an idea to the possibilities of teeth falling and why they do for some and not for the others.
I guess everyone has their set of problems all interconnected with the same thing ( teeth) - While some have teeth falling off and getting dentaures made makes eating solid food a bit difficult and there are like I - who have good , strong teeth but are of no use as I just cannot eat ot drink! Ironical!
Lots of love,
Ananth

Dear Dr.Joshi and all,
Thats explains the teeth under normal circumstances of radiation but should it not have affected me any way due to the excess of radiation I received? If the dosage people normally receive can do this damage irrespective of the reasons, I should have been really bad. I can say, Thank God I am not damaged in that way at all but the question is how did one get away with such massive amount of radiation.?
Love and warm regards,
Ananth

As someone once said, "perhaps it wasn't your time" Sometimes there are no explanations. Just think,if you had been badly affected you wouldn't have met us all here.

Hi Fran,
It was meant to be so and you are so right about explainations. A friend of mine told me excatly what you did but in another manner - I had not recieved my ticket to ride!
Lots of love,xxx and HUGS
Ananth