Hi Erik,
I had my lower left jaw removed, all the way around to the other side of my chin. It was replaced with the small bone from my lower left leg. I also had a neck disection on the left side. I had my chin split (obviously) and lost all the teeth on my lower left side along with the lower middle teeth. I have 6 teeth left on my right lower side. Guess my point is that I had some pretty radical surgery. When they told me what they were going to do I couldn't even fathom it. The most trouble I had was with my leg to be honest, I had very little pain in my face. Today, I look like myself other then my "waddle" from the lymph fluid that hasn't drained. Radiation knocked me down for awhile but almost 8 months out from it I am eating well and have gained back ALL my weight PLUS two extra pounds. Guess I can lay off the Krispy Kreme's now, darn it.
If I had all this to do over again, knowing what I know now, I would not change a thing to my treatment. It appears that surgery and radiation and/or chemo offers us all the best chance of survival.
Hope my thoughts help.
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.