Cathy and Carol,
My husband says the same thing (bless these wonderful men). But I agree Carol... it is the indentation that is the most noticeable as well plus my artery is very clearly noticeable. I have virtually no tissue over my trachea, just skin and there is a depression between the trachea and artery as well. LOL I do love this turtleneck weather :-) I never wear a scarf though, I think my neck is too sensitive.

Hugsssss, Susan

Susan, I am with you on the scarf, I don't wear them either. My trach scar looks pretty bad, had it reopened again in June, wouldn't heal, they found that stitches were coming to the surface that were left in there from original surgery. I was just sooo grateful it wasn't c, I didn't care what was in there!! SMILE!!! Have a great day!!!

Scarves and turtlenecks.

A year ago after my surgery I was glad it was fall so that I could wear turtlenecks. A year ago with the fresh scars I thought I would forever be wearing turtlenecks and scarves, and wondered what I would do it June.

I am amazed at how well my scars have healed in the past year! Now I wear turtlenecks and scarves to be toasty warm! Ironically, my biggest scar is on my chest where the pect flap was taken. So, I was conscious of scars with v-necks, summer tops and swimsuits.

One thing I am noticing now is that my NECK is cold all the time (I always have gotten cold easily, and with 50 pounds of weight loss I don't have extra fat to keep me warm). I am wondering whether the increased sensitivity to cold could be a result of the radiation.

Has anyone experienced or heard of this?? Since the radiation screws up all the normal tissues it would'ntsurprise me. Everything seems a little bit wacko after cancer!

ps Susan - there are a lot of soft, fuzzy fleece or silk scarves that might feel good on a sensitive neck. Just avoid wool. Don't you need scarves in Michigan? I'm in San Francisco and need scarves - not cold by midwest standards, but like today, we get a lot of cold, drizzly days which chill.
cheers!
michelle

LOL we certainly do need scarves! I gotta get one of those soft ones for winter. Michelle... why did they take a pectoral flap? Was that for reconstruction?

Happy day to you,
Susan

Michelle, Since you had radiation you should have your doctor test you for thyroid problems (a simple blood test). A high number of radiation patients will develop hypothyroid symptoms one of which is sensitivity to cold and a lower body temp. (take it in the morning before getting out of bed) if lower than 98 get the test!

take care

Susan,

I am sorry you have enocountered such rudeness. I have had a pretty good cosmetic result of my modified neck dissectomy, but my physician is not satisfied with it! Vanity on his part, perhaps? He is a sweetie and has offered to modify it for me and I am thinking about it.

I have found when people ask me about my surgery or the occaisional speech slip from glossectomy, it is an opportunity to talk about oral cancer. I have bought a bunch of LIVESTRONG bracelets and it is amazing how people respond when you talk to them about cancer, they tell their story, or their mothers, sisters, brother etc and you give them your bracelet. Amazing. I keep mine bright and shiny because I keep giving it away!

Sincerely,
Lisa

PS... this thread started the day before my surgery and I remember reading it then before I joined the forum! The gift that keeps on giving, thanks Brian.

Lisa,
Thank you for writing! I have not heard of these bracelets. Where do you get them?

I'm so happy to hear you had a good cosmetic result! I have been to several plastic surgeons but none of them seem to eager to do anything with me. I have had some liposuction on the other side to try to balance things a little, but unfotunately I have gained weight and with normal aging I am looking very lopsided again.

I have decided to get rid of some excess weight and go have another plastic surgery consult. It has been a few years so maybe there are new techniques.

Susan
p.s. what does T1, N0, M0 mean? And SCC? I don't know the abbreviations used on this board yet.

Hi Susan,
You can order Livestrong bracelets from the Lance Armstrong Foundation at laf.org, or from this site. My daughter ordered our first batch for my Mother's Day gift, she wanted to get me a daffodil charm for my Italian charm bracelet but couldn't find one.

My mother had a masectomy on Tuesday of last week. She has Alzheimers and lives in a memory care facility. I am going to write JEAN-no BP or blood draws left arm on hers. Hopefully she will wear it and her caregivers will remember to care for her appopriately.

T1,N0,M0 is the staging of my cancer. I was considered stage I because my tumor was small T1, and I had no lymph node involvement N0, and no metastasis to other areas, M0. SCC is Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Sincerely,
Lisa

Susan, I haven't been on in a few weeks. However when I read your story I was speechless. I rain to my husband and we both read it together. Tears and all we held each others hand and looked into each others eyes. NO words just silence. You my Dear have an enormus (however u spell that word) story to tell. I am so proud of the fact that you chose to tell it to all of us. I can't think of the proper word to say to you--EXCPET WOW!!! You are truly a ANGEL walking amongst us here on earth. I have always none there were ANGELS I have met a few. And now I have you. The stories you must have buried inside of you. I can only pray that you have wrote you life story down along the years. I have since I was 32 but you at 11. Oh my You are a rock of strenght. I am honored to have had the pleasure in reading your story and i PRAY that you please share some more with us. This is how we learn. This is were we get our hopes and of dreams. This is a place to make friends. This is a place to look beyond the scars and the pain and love and give to each other. I have found so much peace and spirit from this forum. I belong to another one as well. I don't know what I would do without them both. There is only so much you can tell your family and friends. On here you can ask a question and actulaly get a answer. You can feel bad, sad or lonely and someone will help you thru it. This is like a huge arm that can reach out and hold you. I just don't know what I would do without it. I really don't....Thank you for sharing your story with all of us and what a inspiration it was for me to read it.....I have made a copy of it and have it in a frame on my desk. ALways Miss Vicki

Susan, I am fortunate to have met someone with "neck scarring" only I didnt know it! Richard is someone I met at he & his wifes 25th anniversary, I have known them for 5 years (Richard at Trade shows) & his wife around town & have always felt happy to know them..hugs are our way of saying hello & conversations always good, imagine my surprise when I saw Richard on my neigbours doorstep last week & he said "hey Blondie" joking about how he found me, we hugged & I discovered my neighbour had told him of my impending surgery and bout with SCC & partial glossectomy, he then pulled down the collar of his jacket a little & showed me his scar, we then BOTH stuck out our tongues in the middle of the street!..Point is Susan I knew of his bout with cancer but always just appreciated the beauty within that he & his wife possess and NEVER had noticed the scar! I will soon be getting my second smile & pray no rad is needed but have friends like the forum & Richard who have experienced this and it helps soo much to know there are brave survivors like yourself with endless inner (& outer) beauty.
Take care
Maria :-)+}