I completely understand why you would want to redo the major surgery. Please proceed with caution! You have had radiation to the area where you are looking to have surgery on. This comes with significant risk to the 2nd surgery not heeling properly or even worse... failing. Have you discussed this with a physician who knows your complete medical history? If so and they did not bring up the dangers of surgery on a radiated area then you need to get at the very least another opinion. Whatever you decide I wish you all the very best, just please choose wisely.

Ive been approached by doctors about "fixing" the end result of my 2009 surgery. In my situation, I had a very hard time with the original mandibulectomy failing and having to be redone only 2 weeks later. Then it was heeling problems with 8 months of picc line refrigerated antibiotics 3x a day, weekly wound care appointments, a visiting nurse once or twice a week, plus wayyy too many HBO to count. Thinking of all that I went thru plus how slim my survival odds were and I choose to not take the risk.

Good luck!!!


PS...
Ask your doc and please let us know what the doc says.....

What impact radiation has on your heeling?

How long is the surgery?

Will the surgery be as involved as the original one?

What are the chances the surgery will fail?

What kinds of complications would I face if it fails?

How many of these types of surgeries do you preform per year?

Have you ever done this on a radiated patient?


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile