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#58744 08-03-2006 01:38 PM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 30 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 30 | It's 2 yrs. beyond treatment and my husband is still fighting infection in the jawbone; caused by beginning radiation too soon after tooth extraction--not enough time to heal. Result has been a place in the jaw which continues to be infected even after WEEKS of CIPRO and careful tending to the spot. Doctors have even considered replacing his jawbone with bone (& artery)from his leg along with titanium plate, etc. which would be painful, disfiguring, and debilitating for MONTHS. Has already done hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Has anyone gone this long with infection but yet the problem was eventually healed? We REALLY don't want to have to do that surgery! | | |
#58745 08-03-2006 03:16 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 218 | Hi Mawalton, After radiation treatment, I developed an infection in my jaw that went undiagnosed for about 6 months and took another 3 months to heal with significant amounts of antibiotics (pencillin). Fortunately, it never returned.
I'm wondering if you should get a second opinion and see what alternative antibiotics might be tried and whether there are other alternatives to major surgery. Is your husband being treated at a comprehensive cancer center? If not, you might want to find one nearest to you and get a second opinion there. Best, Sheldon
Dx 1/29/04, SCC, T2N0M0 Tx 2/12/04 Surgery, 4/15/04 66 Gy. radiation (36 sessions) Dx 3/15/2016, SCC, pT1NX Tx 3/29/16 Surgery
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#58746 08-03-2006 05:28 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi MaWalton,
I have had the surgery they are proposing for your husband and someone has really given you the wrong information about this surgery. It's certainly no walk in the park, but it is far from what you described. It's not disfiguring for one thing. Second, the pain from the surgery is minimal and managed easily with proper medications. Three, it is NOT debilitating for months. Within two weeks of my surgery, I was eating what I wanted, talking just fine, and recovering nicely. I wouldn't wish the surgery on anyone, but please don't let the nightmarish things you've obviously heard keep you from considering it as treatment for your husband.
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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