 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Just a few thoughts I had after i posted. Make certain that you have a surgeon that has done a zillion of these and is a good plastics man. Also,
I have only seen two of these and am told that they 'don't do that anymore', but I know two people who ae wearing a horrible metal neck collar that apparently also hurts. Make certain that doesn't happen to you. I have nothing around my neck and just glue on an circular adhesive and insert a HME value in the morning. Do ask lots of questions. A speech therapist should have evaluated you and explained what to expect. The one good thing that came from my surgery is that I was able to eat a lot more foods like bread that hadn't been able to eat after radiation.
Take care,
Eileen
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Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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