I did not have this type of surgery, and I cannot control the right side of my mouth, and of course am permanently numb on the left side of my neck from the angle of my mandible to the midline of the front of my face from nerves that were intentionaly cut during the neck dissection. But radiation damage to the facial nerves is a reality, and at the high doses, particularly pre IMRT like me, a reality. It started to get really bad about year 3 out from radiation, and I have seen radiation only patients with faces that look like stroke victims on one side. There are many paths to this outcome.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.