Welcome to OCF, Tiffany! Im very sorry to read about what your father has already been thru!!! Your father is very lucky to have such a dedicated daughter to help him get thru everything.

A mandibulectomy is a long, difficult surgery with a long time needed for recovery. Many patients have complications too. Ive been thru it myself and fortunately survived. My speech is surprisingly very clear considering everything Ive been thru. Having clear speech is definitely NOT a simple feat!!! I credit my clarity from my former profession, talking 10+ hours a day where my enunciation had to be absolutely perfect or I would not have been hired.

Hopefully Your fathers surgery will go smoothly and he will have a much easier time of it this time around. At least everyone knows what to expect an d how to prepared having been thru it before. This time around I suggest asking for a speech pathologist or someone who is very familiar with the numerous challenges oral cancer patients face. The sooner he can start with someone, the better change he has of having clear speech, or at least making some improvements.

Best wishes!!!