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#189119 04-11-2015 10:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
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Raven Offline OP
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My husband had surgery two weeks ago to remove a tumor on his tongue. Tonight, while brushing his teeth, he spit out what looks like his skin graft. We saved it to show the surgeon on Monday, but he is freaked out. Is it the skin graft, or a bandage? Has anyone experienced this? I looked at his tongue and it appears healthy. No bleeding, infection, or redness. He's in a panic and I'm looking for info. Have you had this happen to you? Thanks


wife of man diagnosed with Stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma of tongue Jan 2015. Finished Brachytherapy in May. Now what?
Raven #189122 04-12-2015 05:40 AM
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I cant remember this happening to any other members in the almost 8 years Ive been here. Thats not to say it wouldnt be possible, I have heard of graphs failing. Im very sorry that I dont have a more definitive answer for you. Please understand, our group is made up of fellow patients and caregivers, we lack the years of medical school and training.

You are doing the best thing by seeing the doctor on Monday. If your husband starts bleeding alot or if any major swelling then err on the side of caution and go to the ER right away.

Please keep us posted with what the doc says Monday. Wishing your husband all the best with his recovery.


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
Raven #189135 04-12-2015 06:43 PM
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"OCF Down Under"
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I�ve had a few skin grafts inside my lower lip and on my tongue flap. About 2 weeks after the first graft it started turning purplish and the borders began fraying. Surrounding edges and small pieces of the graft started breaking away - I totally freaked because I thought it wasn�t healing. Immediately I contacted my surgeon and went to see her, she assured me it was ok - tissue under the graft was healthy pink and healing well.

Grafts are different from flaps. Flaps need their own blood supply, so if a flap changes colour or falls off that usually means blood supply has stopped flowing within the flap and the flap is dead.

Good luck with your appointment.




46 yrs:
Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0
Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs
30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin,
30 x HBO
Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy
(hip bone to reconstruct jaw)
Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw
Mar'09 Debulk flap
Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
Raven #189405 04-30-2015 03:38 PM
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Thank you for the feedback. It was the skin graft that fell out, but the tissue underneath is healthy. Scary, but ok.

Last edited by Raven; 04-30-2015 03:38 PM.

wife of man diagnosed with Stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma of tongue Jan 2015. Finished Brachytherapy in May. Now what?

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