 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Hi Heather. I could speak right away after my surgery. It's possible they will give you a tracheotomy but in my case they managed to avoid it. I had that not very welcome device for my hemi-glossectomy and couldn't talk for the first few days.
From the marginal mandibulectomy I have no sign, just a softness on the jawbone where the flap has been placed.
The pain from the jaw can be referred to the ear, I've found, but I can't remember any bad pain from my surgery at all. Not in hospital anyway. After I came home I had to go into Emergency to sort out my medications because the pain manifested itself then, in jaw and ear, about 10 to 14 days after surgery.It was easily fixable with Oxycodone.
To prepare? Enjoy your food because you will be on soft rations for a while. Maybe look into mindfulness and other relaxation exercises for the week or two in hospital and during your recuperation thereafter.
1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
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