Hi Richard,

I just happened to check on this board today because my husband went to see Dr Marx today for a follow up. Dr Marx's team (under his direct, constant supervision) performed a partial (half) mandible resection for him 11 months ago. He had a titanium implant, rather than a bone graft, so his procedure had some differences from what you are probably looking at.

I just want to reassure you that Dr Marx is a real gem. Not only is he tops in his field, and has an incredible amount of experience with your particular situation, but he is also a very caring man who is totally dedicated to his patients. He will see you as a PERSON, not a jaw, and discuss options, outcomes and anything else on your mind. The distance is very unfortunate, but if you come for a consultation with Dr Marx, you should talk to him about that. Perhaps he might know of a surgeon closer to you who might be able to do the surgery, or who would at least be able to do the follow up work. (We live in Ft Lauderdale, which is about an hour away from Dr Marx.)

When my husband first saw Dr Marx, he suggested that the surgery be done in the next few months, when it could be planned, rather than wait until it became an emergency. My husband chose to wait. He later regretted that decision, as his jaw eventually broke and he suffered with constant terrible pain and recurring infections while he waited for a month to be able to have the surgery. It would have been better to to have the surgery earlier and according to a plan.

You are right that the surgery is scary. The recovery isn't easy. My husband has some lingering deficits, primarily eating difficulties, but he feels better than he has in the seven years since his diagnosis. You cannot tell that he had the surgery by his appearance or speech. For him, the surgery was well worth it.

I hope that things go as well as possible for you. If you can get to see Dr Marx, I think that you will find the effort worthwhile.