 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Allyson, so sorry to hear of your diagnosis! This will be a major surgery with a long recovery. Prepare yourself for the worst and hope for the best. Ive had a mandibulectomy with my lower left jaw and left cheek removed. I did have some complications with mine. It was a 10 hour surgery and my recovery was a year. Ive seen others sail right thru this with 10 days in the hospital and a quick recovery. For those lucky patients, you can barely detect they ever had anything wrong once they have healed.
At this point I suggest eating all your favorite foods and not to worry about gaining weight. This surgery will compromise your ability to eat so do it now. You probably will be eating ok once you recovery but it can take a while.
Glad to hear you will be going to a major cancer center. They will have the most experience with this.
Good luck!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
