| | Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 1 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 1 | I had 11 teeth and the right top side of my jaw removed. I have been told they will not operate in a radiated area, but my cheek has contracture and my mouth won't close. It's pulled up on the right.
Has anyone had this happen? What can I ask for? If I can't get it fixed, are there masks specially made for us that I can wear?
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions
Kat
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Welcome to OCF!
When was your initial surgery and when sis you have radiation and to where?
Ive had several surgeries after having radiation. It was the only option my doctors had to eliminate the cancer. Reconstruction surgeries have also been done post rads. I still am disfigured and I go out in public. Frequently I have people stare which can make me feel very self conscious.
Im sorry but Im unsure about the availability of a mask. I know Roger Ebert has something especially designed for him but he also has much more available funds than the average person.
Just remember, we are always our own worst critics. I know I sure am!!! The surgery result may not be as bad as your feel. If it hasnt been very long since your surgery, you may have to wait for any reconstruction. Your body must completely heel before a doctor will make any changes.
Hope this helps you. Best wishes!!!
ChristineSCC 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  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 31 | This was a post from a while back so I don't know if you'll see this but for what it is worth. My mom has the thing where her mouth pulls to the right. They are injecting fat into the area to help even things out a bit. They do warn that because of the prior radiation (2x) that it may not have as good a result as if it weren't in a radiated field but they don't anticipate that it will be worse.
Her mouth definitly pulls in one direction. I can see it. It doesn't seem that bad to me but it really, really, really bothers her. Then one day I was standing behind her in the mirror and I saw what she saw and I got it. What she sees in the mirror is so, so, so, so, so, so, so much worse than what it is in a 3 dimensional environment. And when we talked about that it didn't stop bothering her but she started to believe when people told her how much better she was looking that she was in fact not looking as rough as she thought.
There is nothing easy bout being disfigured and I won't even pretend that it doesn't suck, but from my experience it is probably worse in your head than in real life.
And the plastic surgeon at MD Anderson is totally willing to do surgery to help my 77 year old mother who's had rads on that side of her face twice. So you might have more options than you think.
Caregiver to mom Chris, symptoms started 12/18/13. Biopsy 1/18/14, Diagnosed t2n2 2/3 2014. 3x Carboplatin and Taxotere finished 4/21/14. Chemo/Rads 8 erbitux 36 rads began 5/12/2014. End 6/20/2014. Pnuemonia 6/23/2014. 1 month in hospital 3 in rehab. PEt NED 11/8/2014, T3 recurrence DX 3/4/2015. Hemiglossectomy/mandiblectomy 4/27/2015. 30 rads end 07/24/2015. 4 years NED.
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