Jennie,

In answer to your question, I did not have to have a trach, but before surgery I was warned that I might wake up with one, it really depended on how swollen my neck got, how far back they went with the tongue tumor, and who knows what else. I gues I just got lucky about that (there were plenty of other things I didn't get lucky about, I'd forgotten that was one where I did so thanks for the reminder).

I was stage II so I did not know immediately after the surgery, at least not until the pathology report came back and actually not until I got a second openion form a CCC, that I would definitely have to have radiation and chemo, So I had to go back to the hospital for the PEG operation. Much better to get it done all at once though. He should be totally healed from both of those by the time he starts rad and chemo.

This is a long ordeal of a treatment, there is no question. So come here and vent whenever you need to adn if he feels up to it, encourage him to come and vent too. There's such reassurance in knowing that whatever difficult thing you are facing, there's probably someone here who's been through it too.

Nelie