I suppose I should have started this thread under the recurrence forum? From what I have read in that forum survivors have been a few years post tx not a few months. Carol was scheduled to have a CT Scan in August for her original dx, 4 months post tx. She would have found out then if any surgery would be needed? I was told any scans done earlier would show a lot of inflammation.

Christine - We were getting adapted to the new normal, but I suppose that's out the window now. I have read they can reconstruct the mandible from any one of 4 different bones. The fibula is the most common and most successful? Carol broke her left leg as a kid and her leg is a little shorter than the right. Could that make a difference in which leg to take the fibula from? Or would they use another bone, like from her shoulder? What about steel or whatever metal they use? I'm sure cold weather would affect the jaw? I want to be armed with info and try to ask all the right questions come Tuesday.

David - Carol was a smoker, quit at dx. Also loved good beer and vino during the holidays, quit at dx. She had 2 nodal involvement, one necrotic level 1 and one enhancing level 2. I'm going to ask about the HPV Tuesday, couldn't hurt.

Elizabeth and Patty - Thank you for your prayers. They are really appreciated.

Linda