OP  "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Hi everyone. I'm investigating appearance issues for my little group in New Zealand.
If there is some disfigurement which could be fixed by further plastic surgery, would your insurers fund it? Does your follow up care/survivorship care provide it or suggest it?
It seems that we have a shortfall here. Everyone goes all out to eliminate the cancer but further procedures to ensure an improved appearance and better function are not a priority.
After breast cancer, a reconstruction is provided. Is any similar reconstruction offered to oral cancer patients or is it just too difficult to do. I'm not really inquiring for myself but curiously, I saw a new surgeon recently for Botox. (I drool!) He mentioned as an aside that I could have some sort of "wedge" procedure on my limp lower lip to stop it receding so much on one side. That was never mentioned by my regular follow-up team.
Can anyone shed any light on this issue?
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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