Hi Cindy,

I also had the surgery your dad will have, I had it done on April 16th, 2003 and am doing quite well today. I followed the surgery with radiation, and the radiation was far more difficult then the surgery.

Within 3 weeks, I was eating anything I wanted to eat (remember, I hadn't had radiation yet) and was talking quite well as soon as my trach was removed, which was approx. the 5th day in the hospital. I was in the hospital for 11 days.

My leg gave me far more troubles then my jaw or face did. It took me awhile, but I walk fine now. The donor leg isn't as strong as my other leg and it gets tired quick, but works just fine.

It's a tough surgery but I've had good results from it and I'm cancer free. As I said, the radition was FAR more difficult for me.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

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.