My father was 7 years cancer free this past January and then in September an ulcerated lesion appeared on his tongue. So here we are today 3 weeks post surgery where they performed a hemiglossectomy and reconstruction of his tongue from his left thigh. They also did intraoperative radiation during the 10 plus hour surgery. He is being treated at Ohio State a comprehensive cancer center; however they are now talking about 5 plus weeks of more radiation and chemo.
The tumor was over 4 cm and because of his previous left neck dissection they had to attached to the flap blood supply to the right side of hi throat.
The recovery so far has been really rough. Just yesterday he received a cap for his trach so he could try to speak. Swelling is still pretty bad but you can manage to understand a few words if you watch his lips. The fact that he had previous radiation for a unknown primary seven years ago has made his recovery much more challenge and the intraoperative radiation compounded the swelling after surgery so much so that my father tells us now that he thought he was going to die the first two days after surgery.
Our biggest concern now is the additional radiation. My father had in 2006 the old fashion 2D external beam radiation so not much if any of the tissue was protected.
We are worried with additional radiation he will be on a PEG tube the rest of his life as well as possibly a trache. Let alone what it might do to his spinal cord.
My father before this was extremely active, farming 12-14 hous a day this past summer.
He is in excellent health and had the best vitals on the floor when he was in the hospital.
Anybody have a similar experience? Just don't know what the right decision is.
We meet with the radiation oncologist next Tuesday to hear the exact plan and get fitted for that dreaded mask.