EricS and ChristineB;

Thank you both so much for your replies. As you can, no doubt, understand, I am quite apprenhensive about this impending surgery. Knowledge is power for me. The studies that EricS cited were encouraging. ChristineB, from your advice I plan on receiving a 2nd opinion from a surgeon that is a little closer to me so as to make possible follow-up surgeries easier on me and my family.

This is truly a great resource and I will keep everyone posted.

Thanks

2006 SCC T0 N1 M0; 2006 EBRT x 33, chemo x 3; 2010 Extraction 2 molars; 2010 HBOx30; 2011 Dx osteosarcoma of mandible; 12/20/11 mandibulectomy with temp. titanium plate; 1/31/2012 chemo x 4; 9/19/2012 Reconstruction of mandible with graft from hip and bone morphogenic protein