I would like to start out of saying thank to one that have post on my posts here. Thank you for the information and uplifting stories.

I am now 5 days away from my surgery date and trying to stay calm. I have been though a lot of surgery from ankle surgery to a 3 disk fusion in my lower back. But this one scares me a lot, going through a 12 hours surgery. I cannot wrap my mind around it, how can a doctor with stand that long of surgery. I know he had as a lot of work to do. Rebuild 2 inches of my jaw, remove a small area of my tongue, rebuild some of the floor of mouth.

Monday I have my 1st meeting with his staff to go over the surgery details, ultra sounds of my legs to find the best area to remove some bone.

Some people months ago thought it was dumb for me to move to the Seattle area. But I look at this way, I was meant to move here. They have a strong cancer center and a strong ENT doctors here. I have found out the care here in Seattle is better then Las Vegas. If I was still in Vegas, all this work would have been done done at UCLA.

Again thank you for support from this great group. We are all a strong support group for everyone here.

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery - it sounds like you are feeling positive and ready to "get on it with already!!". Know you will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Donna

Beleive it or not, this can be done!!!! I had 5 doctors working on me. One doing the peg tube, 2 plastic surgeons and 2 ENTs. My surgery was about 10 hours long. The docs switch on and off throughout the surgery. You need to get a positive mindset going into something like this.

I am a 3 time OC survivor, bet you dont know very many 3x cancer survivors. Ive had cancer 3 times in 3 years. This means Ive never fully regained my strength before getting a recurrance. I dont want to go thru all the hurdles that Ive had with this. If I can do it then I know YOU can too!!!!!

I will send you my home phone number if you would like to speak to me on the phone. Im available after 11am eastern time.

You can do it!!! You have confidence in your team and that's important, you are making the right decisions for yourself! My surgery was 14hrs long and I too had numerous people in the OR doing things at the same time. It's totally normal to have some fear of this surgery, I wept up to me being put to sleep!LOL It was my first major surgery, I had never been put under. I agree with Christine try to stay positive and don't let the fear consume your thoughts, you will get through this!! I will be praying for you and the doctors on the 12th.

You just got some good advice from these people. OI have never heard one Dr doing it all. Yu can bet there will be a team working on you. Good luck and may everything be less than you are thinking. I had a 2nd go round 2 months after the 1st one. Thinking it's # 3 time right now, but sure hope not. I look at being put out as time added to the lifespan. I should make 200 yrs. I can't even count the times I have been put to sleep but it is many beginning in the 60s. You will handle it.

Fear is understandable. Courage is doing what must be done despite fear, not the absence of it. Not to sound arrogant or courageous, but I never feared any of the things I had to do to beat this crap, I just viewed each step as one closer to becoming cancer free.

The only thing that I've feared throughout this whole process is the effect it would have on my children, particularly my oldest boy. I figured if he could be strong and hold himself together with the possibility of losing his dad, then I could try and match his courage.

I am glad mine are adults , but they had tears in thier eyes until I started to act like Daddy. You know the "tough guy act"

Ivredrock,

When the fear starts coming on strong, breathe long slow breaths until you feel you can breathe normally. It will help some with the anxiety.

Best wishes,
notself

Best of luck with your surgery. I sent you a private message with my number if you need to speak to someone, please call.

Barry,
Wishing you the best luck today!