As I advised on your other post, I would suggest making an appointment and discussing your surgery in detail. You want to feel at ease that you have made the right decisions with your treatment. Your surgeon has your entire medical history in front of them and they should be able to review everything step by step. Hopefully they will have info about how much tissue will be taken and how this will impact your functioning after the surgery. Ask about eating, drinking and speech. You probably will need a speech pathologist to help you with both eating and speech. Its a major surgery, dont be afraid to ask questions of your surgeon until you fully understand everything.

Its a good idea to take someone along with you to appointments. Get a tape recorder and ask if its ok to tape the Q & A session with the doc. This will help you to go back and review it if you have questions.

If you are not comfortable with the prostiodontist you can always get a second opinion from another one. Remember these doctors all work for you.

Good luck!


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