Hi guys, I have been an observer here for a while. I came here on behalf of my mother-in-law who had her first SCC in 1998, surgery and radiation, cancer was in left cheek area. Recurrance in February 2003, had to wait till April for surgery due to Sars!! She had cancer in her right cheek this time and osteoradionecrosis had invaded her left mandible causing immense pain. They did bilateral neck dissection, removed left lower mandible, didn't re-construct and left her in quite a state. A feeding tube was never offered and I was not anywhere near as well informed as I am now, so she lost a lot of weight and became very weak. The reason I write tonight is, I was just checking in with her and she is really depressed. She feels like she is going backwards. Initially she was able to eat a little pureed food, now she is finding she is choking on everything, pureed soup has become a problem! She is unable to wear a lower denture due to lack of jaw. She dribbles everything due to lack of feeling in various areas, and in the last month feeling has been returning in the form of pain. The pain worries me, she didn't go to her last dr. appointment and I feel that she thinks its back. Throughout this, I have tried to support her and encourage her to hang in there, but I am running out of things to say. I don't even know if I am asking a question here or just venting. I figure if anyone has any ideas it would be you guys, you really know your stuff.... Thanks for listening.
Karen