this is my first post here, I am scheduled for what I consider an enormous surgery in a week and a half and it has me pretty freaked out. They are saying the surgery could take 10 hours and that I will be in the hospital 10 days. One thing that worries me the most is having a trach. That has to be surreal, waking up and breathing through a hole in your neck! I am scared of pain, just hearing about adults who have only had their tonsils removed. I am afraid that my life after surgery will be radically different. I am usually a very positive person and have not really talked much about this to my friends and family but this seems like a safe place to share my real feelings. Would love to hear from anyone who has been through this surgery!


12/13 SCC R lateral tongue excised, clear margins 50yo, 12/14 recurrence R lateral tongue, scheduled 6/9/15 right hemiglossectomy, tongue flap reconstruction, tonsillectomy, RND, trach, G-tube. Followed by RT, possibly chemo.