I am scheduled for surgery on 8/23/04 to remove a new tumor in right side of neck.I had a neck dissection on the right side 7/21/2003. They are going to remove the tumor and spit gland,then do a flap reconstruction. Has any one had one and what was the recovery time? Doc said the operation would last up to eight hours.

Thanks
Bobby J

Bobby, Sorry to hear you have a new opportunity. Hopefully they will get it all this time and you will be free of the disease. Just curious, did you have radiation the first time? Chemotherapy? Are you being treated at a cancer center? I can't help you directly as I haven't had the procedures you are going to have, but you will certainly be in my prayers, you and your medical team.

Hi Bobby! I'm sorry you have to go through this. I had my surgery 2/26/04, was swallowing sips of water within a few weeks even though it made me cough like crazy. It's now August & I still cough a little bit especially when I drink anything as fluid as water, but am able to eat anything as long as I have enough liquid of some sort to wash it down. I'm even eating spicy foods in moderation, still burns the tip of my tongue some. I think of my flap as a living prosthetic device. It really doesn't have any function of its own other than to sort of take up the space where my right half of my tongue use to be. It just get moved around by whats left of my tongue. I can't imagine what it would be like without it. That's my long winded answer to your question about recovery time. Just when I thought I was eating ok, radiation & chemo started & then my throat had to recover from that. It seems like that took longer to recover from. I just keep trying. I suprise myself daily at the things I am able to eat with enough liquid. Keep yer chin up bub!!

Thanks for the info. Yes I had radiation before /no chemo. I work and I am being treated at Duke Med Center,so I am in good hands. I may have not told the type of flap I am having but this one is to rebuild the neck area. No sign of reoccurrence in my tongue,just in the node. I have been told that I will get rad. and chemo this time.(Fun fun)
Thanks
Bobby

Bobby, I cannot imagine my mouth without the flap either. It replaces the left half of my tongue, I can pretty much eat anything with plenty of water to wash it down. Of course, lots of foods do not taste the same, but that's okay. I even get to enjoy my coffee again!!! God Bless, you are in my thoughts and prayers...Love, Carol

Hi Bobby,

I had a flap reconstruction in August 03. They used my right side chest pech muscle to reconstruct my throat. The other flap I'm aware of is when they take part of your forearm and use that to rebuild your throat. They then take a piece of skin from your theigh to cover the forearm. It's not as bad as it sounds.

I was eating soft foods within 3 to 4 weeks. I am eating most foods except bread now.

Good luck with your treatment,

Danny Boy

Bobby,

I had the forearm free-flap used to cover the void left from my tonsil surgery. It healed fast and the scar on my arm has faded nicely. I thought they did the neck dissection from the outside and could thereby avoid the use of the flap. Are they going after your tonsil or something? Just curious.

Glenn

Yes the neck dissection is done from the outside and that is where they are going to put this free flap. They are going after more nodes and spit gland. Doc said I would be in surgery 10 to 12 hours and in intensive care for two days. He said they would keep me asleep so I don't move at all and mess up his handy work. Lots of micro vascular sutures that will tear easy,wants them to start healing and so they don't hemorrhage But whatever it takes I am ready!

Bobby

Bobby-
Sorry to hear about your upcoming surgery. You are still on my prayer list and I'll pray that tthey will kill the beast this time around!! Hang in there and know that many prayers are headed your way. Keep that good attitude!!!! - Kris

Well, home from the hospital. Nine hours of surgery two days in ICU then back home on Sat.Went back to see the Docs today and they said I am doing great! They still don't have all the path. reports but should have them by Thursday. The flap on the side of neck looks good It is just whiter than the rest of my neck but thats OK I am not very vain anyway. My wife has been by my side the intire time she is so great.The frozen sections that they did all came back no cancer so I am praying that I will not have too have rad/chemo but we will see. Thanks for all the prayers and post.

Bobby