A bit of prayer cover please...

by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 08:54 (17 days ago)

I have been quiet about my health lately as not much has changed but, in the last 4 months or so, we've been going through a bit. In early 2022, I had radiation treatments on my neck/throat to kill off a tumor. The treatments were just plain awful but they did work and there hasn't been a sign of any return since.

Fast forward to this past March and I had restarted chemo for my colon cancer. On a regular visit sometime in April, my oncologist asked me if anything else was going on. I mentioned I had a tooth bothering me but we'd do chemo and then I'd go see a dentist. He became very concerned, canceled chemo and got me into the dentist that afternoon! They ended up pulling the tooth and sending me off to an oral surgeon. Their diagnosis was osteoradionecrosis--a fancy name telling me that the earlier radiation killed my jawbone along with the tumor.

Since that time, I have been keeping the Tylenol company in business trying to manage the pain. Bottom line is I have oral surgery scheduled for Thursday wherein they will remove one or two more teeth, any remaining dead bone, install a plate and sew things up to encourage healing. There is some sort of brace involved for a couple weeks afterwards as well as a liquid diet. I don't expect it to be any sort of fun whatsoever but it will beat where I am at these days.

Thanks for your support,
Hoot