Hello friends,

Today I saw my beautiful Aunt Rosemary right after she left her doctor's office, and found out that her cancer has returned. To recap her case, three years and three months ago, Aunt Ro was diagnosed with BOT SCC, Adenocarcinoma in one salivary gland and a mets of SCC to the floor of her mouth and one cervical lymph node. What she has now is a recurrence of the Adenocarcinoma in a gland under her jaw bone on the same side. Her first surgery was the traditional center jaw split, free flap graft, and radical neck dissection. Her surgeon is now talking about doing the same surgery again- although I'm not sure about another neck dissection. If they took all of her lymph nodes out on that side, what would there be to remove and send to pathology at this point?

I have a couple of questions just to start. I'm sure I'll have more later. Has anyone had this same surgery twice? Splitting of the jaw- twice?? Is there ANYTHING new that can be done? Her surgeon has strongly advised that radiation be done after this surgery, but again she is against it.

Please post anything and everything that might help, as I will be faxing Aunt Ro responses and info every day.

My thoughts and my prayers are with you all as you continue to do battle with this beast.