Palmtree, welcome to OCF. You will find lots of support here and help with your concerns. An important thing to remember, everyone here is different. We all heal and respond to treatments/meds in our own way. Please add a signature line when you are able to. There are several members from NJ/PA.

Ive just gone thru a similar operation. My lower L jaw was removed and replaced with a steel jaw. It sounds like my surgery was more involved than what you described. My cheek was removed, thats where my cancer was the cheek and it invaded my jawbone. I was in ICU for a few weeks, then a few weeks in other parts of the hospital. Radiation/chemo I had during my first round of cancer so I didnt have them. Thats also why it took me a long time in the hospital. Skin that has had radiation doesnt heal as well.

Let your FIL eat/drink anything he can. Currently, I use a feeding tube and eat only very soft foods like yogurt, soup broth and pudding. This is only temporary, things will improve.

Your FIL will have whats called a neck dissection. It takes a few lymph nodes from his neck and checks them for cancer. It will be done while he has his other surgery. My surgery was about 11 hours with 5 surgeons. You will see the neck dissection abbreviated as ND.

There are a few of us here who have gone thru this type of treatment. Best of luck with everything. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.