So we've got a recurrence. It's all in the mouth, but it's big and it's going to be a pretty major resection probably 2/3 with a marginal mandiblectomy and a neck dissection for access so she'll take a couple of nodes just to be sure but there is no evidence of nodal involvemenet. No other structures involved.

So, I've read a lot about the surgery, and the recovery from the surgery and it isn't that I'm not worried about that, it's just that I know how to handle that.

What I want to know is what you do with yourself when your loved one is going through a 15 hour surgery. Coping strategies? Things to do while you wait? Any suggestions will be

Caregiver to mom Chris, symptoms started 12/18/13. Biopsy 1/18/14, Diagnosed t2n2 2/3 2014. 3x Carboplatin and Taxotere finished 4/21/14. Chemo/Rads 8 erbitux 36 rads began 5/12/2014. End 6/20/2014. Pnuemonia 6/23/2014. 1 month in hospital 3 in rehab. PEt NED 11/8/2014, T3 recurrence DX 3/4/2015. Hemiglossectomy/mandiblectomy 4/27/2015. 30 rads end 07/24/2015. 4 years NED.