 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 |
Jenka
Welcome to OCF. I know its a scary time right now for you. Please feel free to ask questions. There are many survivors and caregivers here who will be happy to help guide you thru this.
To avoid some of the after effcts you can make sure you do stretching exercises several times per day. This will help to avoid trismus. Also make sure no matter how difficult it is to swallow, you try to drink a few sips everyday.
The only other recomendation is to eat like crazy right now. Eat everything you can since it could be a long time before food will be as tasty as it is right now. Dont worry about gaining weight, you probably will lose some during treatment.
Your age will be a big benefit to you with the healing and recovery part of this. Best of luck with everything.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
