We are are month out of the surgery today. If you have read my posts in "Introduce Yourself", you know this is our second go around. This time they took all the tongue, all the lower jaw, floor of the mouth and the top of the larnyx. They did reconstruction using his left shoulder for the free flap, bone, etc. The set backs were not related to the surgery directly. He had heart fibrilation, pneumonia, and infection in his arm from IVs. This past week he had a problem with fluid in the lungs. None of our local doctors were anxious to take on a patient with a trach tube still in, and he was too sick to take back to the doctors in Madison, WI.
Getting to the big question we have, has anyone had success using chemotherepy after a recurrence such as this? We did in our visits this week meet with a medical oncologist who we will see again next week. The doctor who sent us to him seemed to be doing it because he thought we would need him for palliative care more than chemo as time goes on. We haven't given up and ready for hospice, but are thinking about getting this whipped if we can. I think the tumor board is supposed to have met and may have some suggestions for us too. What questions should we be asking as we proceed with treatment?

Thanks for your help.
Lowanne