Hey Cheryl,

I know- the splitting of the jaw sounds horrific. I had a big scar but it has faded to almost nothing.. I had corrective reconstructive plastic surgery on the scar and on my neck to even out my trach scar 1 year after surgery and it really helped.

The reason they need to split the jaw open is so they can really see where the cancer has spread and to get clear margins to ensure that it will not reoccur. I think that this invasive approach allows for more successful surgery to remove the cancer with better margins. This is how it was described by my surgeon and oncologist.

Trust me- I understand very much why you wouldn't want it done - I really do. Its horrific and ghastly but honestlly if they say it is the only way for them to accurately and successfully remove the cancer you need to follow thier recommendations.

Your body will heal itself and amazing things can be done with plastic surgery and makeup so it will look like it never even happened.
Your life and career will work itself out to accomodate this surgery. I only say this because I care.