HI, MY NAME IS VICKI, THO EVERYONE HAS ALWAYS CALLED ME MISS VICKI,,SOUTHERN IN ME, I GUESS,,ANYWAY, I AM 47 YEARS YOUNG,, THIS IS MY 3RD TIME WITH MOUTH CANCER,,SO YES I AM A SURVIVOR,,BUT STILL FIGHTING..I GOT MOUTH CANCER THE FIRST TIME IN 1989 AT THE AGE OF 32,,THEN IT CAME BACK 10 YEARS TO THE DAY,,THEN AGAIN IN 2003,,I JUST HAD RADICAL THROAT AND NECK WITH COMPLETE JAW REPLACEMENT,,MY QUESTION IS THIS,,I HAVE HAD RADIATION 2 TIMES,,,ONCE WITH THE MASK AND EXTERNEL,,I GUESS YOU CALL IT,,THEN RADIATON IMPLANTS,,,THE AREA, MY JAW, CHEEKS, THROAT, IS TAKING FOREVER TO GO DOWN IN SWELLING...I HAVE A FEEDING TUBE AND A TRECH...THE TRECH WILL COME OUT AS SOON AS THE SWELLING GOES DOWN WHICH ISNT HAPPENING VERY QUICKLY,,DOC SAYS IT COULD TAKE UP TO YEARS FOR THIS TO OCCUR. WHICH WAS NOT WHAT I WAS TOLD BEFORE THIS HORRIBLE PAINFUL 14 HOUR SURGERY...ANYONE HAD THIS REACTION THAT CAN GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT AS TO WHAT TO REALLY EXPECT..THANK YOU SO MUCH,,,MISS VICKI

Hi Miss Vicki,

Welcome from one southern gal to another. I'm sorry to hear about your recurrances. I don't have answers to your questions. Someone on this board might and I'm sure will answer.

I just wanted to greet you and although we hate to see new people with this cancer "let you know you are welcome".

As I was reading your posts it dawned on me that it was harder than normal to read due to the use of all caps. (besides it is screaming in on line language - although there again, we'd all like to scream sometimes)

If you think about it next time you post, please try not to use all caps.

Take care and again glad you found us. And hopefully someone that has had your surgery will be along to help.
Dinah

I am so sorry my button was broke so I went this morning and bought a new keyboard,,,hope this helps...sorry

Hi Welcome
Glad you could join us.. sorry I can't answer your questions but I'm sure someone here will have the answer.. Take Care
Helen

Hi Miss Vicki,

Welcome to the forum -- I'm sorry to hear about your multiple battles, but hope this time is a success.

When I had radiation, it included both external beam and implants, and it took many months -- probably more than a year -- for the swelling to go away entirely. However, it was gradually going down during that period so after a few months it was less of a hindrance from the standpoint of eating. (I was recently looking through some old family pictures to try to track what happened with the swelling over time, but I can't seem to find any -- I guess because I was trying not to be in any pictures around that time.)

I didn't have a feeding tube at any point, so I can't comment on how long you might need to have that in place. There are a number of people on this board who have had tubes for extended periods after radiation and may have thoughts on that.

Just curious -- have you had all three incidents of cancer handled by the same team/medical center, or different ones?

Cathy

Miss Vicki,

I think I still have some residual swelling after 4 months. I'm not sure things will ever be the same in my throat after the "microwave" treatment. Are you able to plug your trach for anytime at all? They told me as soon as I was able to leave the trach plugged they would remove it. I'm a bit confused is the swelling from surgery or radiation?

I'm still on a feeding tube as well. I eat some, but not enough to maintain my weight.

I didn't have any jaw surgery, but have seen some results and the swelling is tremendous. I'm not sure how long to expect that swelling to go down.

God bless you! Welcome to this site. I'm here to help if I can.

Lynn

Wow!! Am I overwelmed, thank you so much for making me feel so welcomed..and for all the replies..I have just now been able to cap off the trache, for the second time, we will see, my next appt is in Cal, I live in Vegas but all this work was done at UCI-Irving..What a GREAT place that is, I love my new team of doctors,,Lord I have a ton of them it seems..The fedding tube who knows for I do not ever see me eating again not with this little bity piece of a tongue that I have left,,but you never know. I have so much to heal..My upper and lower leg, my neck, my mouth, my ears,,My oh my..I dread having to have the feeding tube changed out,,they say it has to be changed every 3 to 4 months,,since I am a very high risk person to be put out..and they may have to put me out..if the "C" doesn't pop up somewhere else, I pray to all the Heaven's that it does not,I can live another 5 plus years,,,that is what I am aiming for,,without this surgery..I was given 3 months and best...I took th e surgery, 3 months was not an option for me...wish me all the success in this..Always, Miss Vicki

Hey Miss Vicki...you need to make plans to meet all these guys in Vegas...they will drag you through the bad times.
My husband had his feeding tube,the same one, in place for a year before it was removed.
Keep your lovely new chin up.
Cheers
Marica

Hey Miss Vicki,
My husband had his PEG tube put in at the beginning of treatment in mid January. He still uses it...hoping to get rid of it soon. He can eat very little by mouth, though, just some soup and pudding. It's a long, hard process but he hasn't had any trouble at all with the PEG. Enjoy the board...I feel like my day is not complete if I have not had time to visit at least a little! May God bless you and comfort you during these very difficult times. God and a great support group of several people is what gets us thru!!
Take care,
Debbie

I feel the same way about this board. My day wouldn't be complete without logging on and checking in on everybody. I usually check out the new members too. It's sad though to see how prolific this disease has been lately.

Talk to you soon
Lynn