About a week after my mother had surgery to remove part of tongue right mandible and floor of mouth she developed a canal. I guess that means there was a hole from her mouth that leaked outside. They had to pack her and put her on antibiotics for 2 weeks. That was in February 2002. That cleared up and the doctor says things have healed nicely. She is very frustrated with the eating thing and has kept the feeding tube in. She is still using 2 cans of ensure a day because she is trying to maintain her weight, but eating is a real chore and she doesn't enjoy it. She is 79 and lives alone and I must say she does quite well despite the problems this disease has caused her. Her speech is understandable but she has trouble with certain sounds and is concerned about her appearance, but has started to use the car again to go to the hairdresser and church. I guess those are 2 things that she will hold on to as long as she can.