Helen,
That is my mother's name also. My mother has been battling OC since April of last year. Her saga started in April of 2001 with the diagnosis and then neck surgery and feeding tube insertion. These were done on the same day and she was out of the hospital the next day. She was 78 at the time. Radiation and chemo followed. It was very tough on my mother, but she started to mend after the end of radiation last August. Her followups went well until right before Christmas when her ENT saw a spot that wasn't going away. She was sent for all the previous tests again and it was cancer. It had spread to her mandible and floor of her mouth. The doctor referred her to another ENT at a teaching hospital in the area that was equipped to deal with such major surgery. After more tests including a PET scan she was cleared for surgery and it took place on Feb. 11, 2002. Things went pretty well. She had a trache, but never required a ventilator. The surgery took 6 hours, but she was out of the ICU the second day. Things went well, but after about a week she developed a canal in her mouth and it had to be packed and antibiotics administered. That cleared up and after 4 weeks she was released. She spent her 79th birthday in the hospital. She went to stay with my sister for 6 or 7 weeks and now she is home by herself and has even started driving again. Yesterday she had a followup with her ENT and he said he couldn't be more pleased with her progress. Her surgery consisted of the removal of over half her tongue, her mandible and part of the bottom of her mouth. I am amazed at the stamina of this 79 year old woman. She is one tough old bird. My mother is concerned with her appearance, but considering the extent of the surgery and the insertion of a plate to replace her jawbone she looks great. I would have expected some major disfigurement, but it's not like that at all. The last time my mother went to the doctor she told him that she felt anxious a lot of the time. If it was me going through what she did they would have had to peal me off the ceiling. She is in good spirits and has retained her sense of humor, which is often directed at her own predicament. When it was decided she would have the surgery to remove a portion of her tongue she said that there were probably many people who would like to be wielding the scalpel. I imagine your mother must be scared, but I can only tell you that my mother has been amazingly resilient through her ordeal. Best of luck and if a name means anything Helen will do as well as my mother Helen has. Best of luck!!!