I was blown away with the attendance we had for our February meeting! It was a great reminder of the need for peer support for people affected by Head & Neck Cancer
It was wonderful to have Sophie and Shae from the Peter Mac dental team join us. They spoke to the group about oral side effects caused by cancer treatments such as; dry mouth, tooth decay, trismus (reduced opening of the jaw), osteoradionecrosis (a condition where the jaw bone dies) and taste changes.
Some specific products were discussed to help with these ailments and the group was encouraged to maintain good oral health for the rest of their lives. If you would like to do some more reading, there are resources located here: https://www.petermac.org/services/treatment/dental-oncology
“I am not abnormal – there are others out there like me.”
For the rest of the meeting, the large group introduced themselves and their (or their loved one's) experience of Head & Neck Cancer. The conversation focused on staying positive, changing eating habits over time and getting back to the ‘new normal.’ To finish the session we discussed what members would like to do, see or visit in 2020. Looking at the year ahead, many members are looking forward to holidays, weddings and finishing treatment.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 8th April – please make sure you register or email to let me know you’re coming. Look forward to seeing you then!
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