James, welcome to OCF! Im very glad you have found this site to help you and your mother with info and support. She sure has been thru alot! So have you and everyone else in the household. Cancer affects the whole family, not just the patient.

Ive had a mandibulectomy so know all too well how difficult it is to recover from. I had a few complications so my recovery took a full year. Sounds like your mother did very well with her initial recovery from the mandibulectomy. The second one was much harder on her as she was probably a bit run down after going thru so much already and also she had gone thru rads which can be brutal. Your mother is one tough lady! This recovery from round 2 will probably be quite a bit longer than the first surgery.

When I read what you wrote about your mom, you reminded me of my son and how hard my cancer battles were on him. Being a caregiver isnt easy. Im sure it must be hard on you to watch your mother go thru everything. Dont forget to take some time for yourself during your mothers recovery. I know you are young, but you can still get burned out.

Best wishes with everything to you and your mother.

Christine
SCC 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 smile