| Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Carol,
I had the jaw surgery (jaw removed, replaced with bone from leg) 16 months ago. I also had radiation. I had a quick recovery from the surgery, out of the hospital in 11 days and eating food within 2 weeks of the surgery. The radiation is the cause of most of my complaints. The surgery is doable and is well worth it if you can get rid of the cancer. Keep in mind that I was 41 at the time of the surgery.
Good luck with your decision.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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