 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Hi Christine,
I am happy you have a plan to work with now. I can answer some of your questions. The split jaw thing might seem really scary but it is not as bad as it sounds. As to the nerve questions, some things with nerves recover some do not. In my case the nerve to the right side of my tongue was damaged so that side is not able to move properly (partially paralyzed) sense of taste is not affected. I have been able to speak so that not many folks would notice but moving food around in my mouth is sometimes a little challenging. It has been almost 3 years now with little change to that side of my tongue. I can easily live with it the way it is but I continue to hope for more improvement. Nerves heal VERY slowly if at all.
There are other here that have the prosthesis you describe, I have no personal experience with it but from what I have read they are not a big problem.
I hope everything goes very well!
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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