Thank you, Brian, for your response.

Fortunately we were able to meet and talk with an oral cancer patient at the prosthodontist's office just prior to my son's surgery. The lady was 6 years post-op having had almost the exact same surgery that my son ended up having. She has been very helpful and supportive and was able to provide a lot of information to us regarding the surgery and the after effects. I was also able to find an ameloblastoma group on Yahoo groups and corresponded with a couple of people who had similar surgeries.

While my son's surgery was fairly radical and traumatic, he has made tremendous progress and is healing quickly. In fact, I just got back late this evening from taking him to college - less than 5 weeks post surgery. His prosthodontist made a temporary obturator that is working very well. He is speaking and eating normally and except for the care the obturator and surgical site require, I expect his first weeks as a college freshman will be similar to that of other entering students.

I feel like it is almost a miracle how well things have gone. Even the oral surgeon is surprised at how the hole is closing up and is now saying that perhaps one day, he will be able to have surgery to close the opening. I am also looking into reconstruction possibilities - even though both the oral surgeon and prosthodontist are pessimistic whether reconstruction will be possible eventually.

Thanks again....

Peggy