| | Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 24 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 24 | Alpaca & Cheryld - thanks so much for the detailed info. The more information I have, the calmer I feel. I have what I believe is a great doc here at Mission Hospital with the Head & Neck group. Surgery is scheduled for the end of January.
Alpaca - they have mentioned shaving my right mandible to get a cleaner margin if needed. I am wondering how long until you are able to speak normally again?
Also - is there anything I can do to help prepare for this surgery ahead of time?
Thanks again folks - really helps to have your collective wisdom.
11/2014 - DX SCC, S3N0M0
Non-smoker/drinker/drugs, no cancer of any kind in family, HPV negative
2/10/15 neck dissection, nodes removed (all clear), moderately differentiated mass removed from cheek & hinge of jaw, free flap graft. Clear margins. Micro infiltration into some of the vascular structures in the local area of tumor. PEG tube 1 week later
4/6/15 - Begin 40 Rads & 4 rounds Cisplatin
5/27/15 - rads & chemo complete.
12/5/15 - PET/CT clear. Watch & wait...
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Hi Heather. I could speak right away after my surgery. It's possible they will give you a tracheotomy but in my case they managed to avoid it. I had that not very welcome device for my hemi-glossectomy and couldn't talk for the first few days.
From the marginal mandibulectomy I have no sign, just a softness on the jawbone where the flap has been placed.
The pain from the jaw can be referred to the ear, I've found, but I can't remember any bad pain from my surgery at all. Not in hospital anyway. After I came home I had to go into Emergency to sort out my medications because the pain manifested itself then, in jaw and ear, about 10 to 14 days after surgery.It was easily fixable with Oxycodone.
To prepare? Enjoy your food because you will be on soft rations for a while. Maybe look into mindfulness and other relaxation exercises for the week or two in hospital and during your recuperation thereafter.
1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Hi there.. Based on location they may or may not trache you. Usually if they do it's simply to keep the stress on your healing sutures etc - to a minimum. If you have a trache you'll likely need something to speak with for the first few days depending on the type of trache. I would bring an Ipad or a pad of paper and pen. make sure they stay on top of any pain you have. We all handle it differently so I can't give specifics, but I was for the most part numb and didn't need pain meds after day two or three. I asked them to stop. But some people definitely need them.
sleep as much as you need, continue the healthy diet, and try to be patient - it takes time to heal.
Hugs.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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