Thank you all for your responses it is helping somewhat I think I was having a major anxiety attack last night but all the same I go back and forth on all of this. I am wondering what to expect having a the flap inserted and dissections what others have experienced having this proceedure done. I understand you are well taken care of but what about drinking, eating, talking after ward. I am assuming it depends on how much of the tongue will have to be taken. So basicially it is a lot of guessing still. I have experience with my mouth being cut appart as my teeth have been removed already long time ago. Doctors and nurses unless they have experienced it can only go by words. I believe Nelie has hit it right on the nose as far as the dissections go. They are hoping they don't have to do radiation or any further treatment. I saw my doctor at the cancer center in London what a huge place. I am having a further cat scan and we will know more from there. When the oral surgeon did the biopsy part of my tongue was taken with the rest of the leasion. My tongue seems numb but get a lot of sharp pains in in every once in a while. The doctor had the pathology report from our local hospital, a cat scan and an ultra sound to work with teamed together with his knowledge. From what I understand he is one of the best in the area and I know I had luck getting him and his team. I have been told I will have a two week stay in the hospital and home care when I get home. My husband accompanies me to my appointments and he did what he could to ask questions but I believe he was in as much shock as I was. I will ask the nurse more of what to expect post surgery. I was so overwhelmed with the idea of surgery and pictures they were going to have to take inside my throat which again was really nothing but to me it is I felt like I was choking the whole time of the test thought I had broke the poor nurses hand. Which is making me nervous to have a feeding tube through my nose into my stomach. I realize there are people who are or have overcome worse situations. But I feel like I am choking.

Today is my first smoke free day!

I thank you all for your support and understanding I do tend to overreact but this is part of my disability. Anxiety attacks are a huge part of it. I respect all of you and you have my complete admiration and trust. I will trying to post information as I think of it or as it is shown to me. I am waiting patiently for a cat scan date to go back to London.

A little calmer now
Thanks
Dianne

Dianne- My husband had surgery that is quite similar to what you have described. He also had to have half of his bottom right jawbone removed and replace with bone from his leg. He had both sides of his neck dissected also and they found more positive nodes than what showed on the scans so for him that was the right way to go. He woke up with a G-tube and a trach. The trach was removed prior to him coming home and the G-tube was replaced with a PEG through the stomach. He has a bad gag reflex also but due to the meds he was given in the SICU he barely remembers anything. Following his release from the hospital he had chemo and radiation but we knew this going into the surgery. He was in the hospital for 2 weeks but his leg was also healing so you may have less time there.

Hang in there. This is the best place to come for info and reassurance. Please do what the others have suggested and get all this straight with your doctor.

Sue

Thanks for that info Sue. Would anybody know if the peg is a necessity for any tongue surgery or is it just used when you have radiation treatment? I am really not truly sure on what a Peg is either?

Well I would definitely trade a ND for no radiation, that's for sure but I wouldn't want a ND unless it was absolutely necessary IF I was going to get radiation anyway.

Thanks David I think that is also what the next cat scan is supposed to be able to tell as I said I think...but I am definately more informed to talk to the dr before surgery...Again thanx..

Dianne

That's a great benefit of this site.

Dianne - the main web site has answers to much of this, for instance here is a page on PEG feeding http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/tube_feeding.htm

Thank you for the link. I still am not sure I will need that apparatus. I know it depends on circumstances but at least I know what it looks like and am sure my caregivers will inform me of details should the need present itself.
That site lead me to wander about the sit and I took some time out to read some stories of survivors including Brian's. I am amazed at the journeys all have endured. I guess at this point I have to grab a hold of myself, dig deep and pray that this can be removed without radiation treatments. No matter what directions the results could have taken so far they have alway been in one direction. I am praying really hard that I will not have to travel the road so many of you have. I just cannot say it enough you folks are all amazing and have amazing stories to tell and I do mean amazing. I am curious though this being an american site if there are many Canadian members or links. I really do thank the nurse for this site.

I will wait till my cat scan and continue to pray for the favourable results my doctor believes it is. I am no stranger to surgery but have not had anything this huge before. I don't know if I am just paranoid or not but I have feelings in my body that friends are trying to be supportive and telling me it is sore from muscles being affect by the cancer and same with my jaw and ear ache (which the doctor was aware of at my consult visit) Like how far I am feeling sore and achy. It is going down my neck almost to my collar bone. Anyway I have to wait for the cat scan for definate answers. Fretting at this time won't do any good. (Oops did I type that...that is me talking to myself again to keep me on track) I have to keep telling myself to live in the moment which is so hard to do for me but some of the best advise to me.

First step taken One full day without a cigarette. Wasn't all that bad just moments...Looking forward to day 2!!!

Holding my own (sort of)

It is without a doubt the most difficult mental adjustment that we all had to make and like so many other things, time is the big healer.

Re the Peg and I'm not an expert here since I opted not to get one but remember this...if you do want one or think that you will ever want to fall back on it, you are well advised to get it put in before any treatment that may lower your white blood cells begins. Waiting until the last minute to make the Peg decision may not be prudent so talk about the timing of the Peg as much as whether or not you need or want one.

I have another question so I can look it up...what is it called when the whole bottom of your mouth is removed no bone just down to the bone from one side to the other? I am not sure I am thinking to the gums and over (as I presently have no teeth and wear dentures). It would be helpful for me to know what the medical jargon would be for this proceedure. Then I can try to piece together and familiarize myself with that part of my proceedure.

Thanks

Dianne