i have been trying to get some info on this forum and though maybe you can help.my cousin has cancer in his lower jaw bone and they are looking at replacing the lower jawbone with bone from his leg.the problem he has been in a nursing home for the last seven years and he is a wheelchair he still can get himself in and out of it. he is sixty three and has some other issues with his memory and its up to his sister if he should have the operation,she wants my opion on what to do because i go see him almost everyday.i know its a lot to put him through but i think he should have it his chin doesnt look good now and i dont think its right not to do something.i talk to him about it and he would like it done.dont know if he fully understands what involved.saw him a couple of times looking in the mirror at it so i know it bothers him even though he is not having any pain.his sister agrees with me but some others dont even though they have not seen him in months.sorry for the long message but i am hoping you or some one you know can give their opinon dotors app. on monday surgery the following week.thank you for any advice

Ive been corresponding with Freddy thru PMs. My advice is to have the surgery. Hope some other who have gone thru a mandibulectomy will also give him some help.

Hi, Freddy,

I agree with Christine that he should have the surgery. If he does not have it, his jaw will deteriorate more until he'll have no function at all. Then eating by mouth will become impossible. He is still young at 63. My husband was 65 when he had his mandibulectomy using the fibula. It is a big operation but very doable.

You are a good and caring cousin in that you spend so much time with him. Plan on continuing this as he will need your support following the surgery. He'll come home with drains in the area below the jaw and possibly one in his leg. Most of the discomfort my husband experienced was in his leg. If you familiarize yourself with his procedure and learn what to expect after he returns home, you and he will be better able to get through it.

My husband had a peg tube placed one year before his mandibulectomy before radiation. We were so glad he had one as it was a godsend for this procedure in that he could get his nutrition. I don't know how he would have handled eating by mouth had he not had a PEG tube. Maybe some others here can offer their insights on this.

Come here often, too, as there are many on this site who have been through this procedure.

My best to you and your cousin-
Anita

thank-you Christine and Anit

Thank-you Christine and Anita his surgery is schedule for Oct.first

my cousin had his surgery the docter took less of the jawbone out and some of the roots on his tongue.he has no bottom lip so they moved his top lip around a bit.his mouth will be smaller but the doctor said he has full function in his tongue and feels he can eat in time.they are going to try to get him to drink next week.the nurse has a different opinion.like to get some answers from anyone who been through it.

Freddy;
From what I can gather, every mandibulectomy is different. It depends on what part of, and how much of the mandible needed to be taken, how many teeth are left and, probably of most importance, how much of the surrounding soft tissue needed to be resected. I lost 2/3 of my mandible but the surgeon was able to save my lower lip and tongue through the use of some skin grafts and a titanium plate. Your cousin will learn to deal with whatever he has in his own way. He probably won't be eating the same things in the same way as he did before but he will find whatever works for him. After a period of emotional and physical adjustment, people tend to define for themselves a new sense of "normal" and simply get on with their lives. I am facing several more reconstructive surgeries and hope to regain most of my formal dietary habits but radiation has forever reduced my ability to produce saliva and has narrowed my esophagus at the epiglottis so some foods that I formally enjoyed are simply off the menu for me now.

I wish your cousin the best of luck. He will need quite a bit of emotional support as he adjusts to his new reality.

Richard is correct, every mandibulectomy is different and the doctors take different amounts of bone and tissue. Recovery can be long. After one year reconstruction is usually something many of us have had done. How your cousin looks today is not how they will look once everything has healed and they have their reconstructions. Best wishes to your cousin with their recovery!

thanks for the info did not know about any more surgery for reconstruction is this a personal thing or something that they do

[quote=ChristineB]Richard is correct, every mandibulectomy is different and the doctors take different amounts of bone and tissue. Recovery can be long. After one year reconstruction is usually something many of us have had done. How your cousin looks today is not how they will look once everything has healed and they have their reconstructions. Best wishes to your cousin with their recovery! [/quote]

Hello everybody...my mother-in-law is having her surgery 10/10 and my husband is very anxious about it. I can feel his fear. I want to get an idea of how serious is this surgery. They are removing her check muscle on the right where the cancer is. Then partial mandubulectomy depending on the size of the tutor for now they see 2cm but it could be bigger. they will use a titanim plate for the reconstruction. They also mentioned a flap, they are getting skin or flesh from the underarm. That part I do not understand...can some please expound on what this means. Thanks

[quote=Richard T.]Freddy;
From what I can gather, every mandibulectomy is different. It depends on what part of, and how much of the mandible needed to be taken, how many teeth are left and, probably of most importance, how much of the surrounding soft tissue needed to be resected. I lost 2/3 of my mandible but the surgeon was able to save my lower lip and tongue through the use of some skin grafts and a titanium plate. Your cousin will learn to deal with whatever he has in his own way. He probably won't be eating the same things in the same way as he did before but he will find whatever works for him. After a period of emotional and physical adjustment, people tend to define for themselves a new sense of "normal" and simply get on with their lives. I am facing several more reconstructive surgeries and hope to regain most of my formal dietary habits but radiation has forever reduced my ability to produce saliva and has narrowed my esophagus at the epiglottis so some foods that I formally enjoyed are simply off the menu for me now.

I wish your cousin the best of luck. He will need quite a bit of emotional support as he adjusts to his new reality. [/quote]


Hello Freddy my mother-in-law is 72 and weak, she never regained her weight from her glossectomy. She is down to 98 lbs. Has been on ensure and soup diet for 2 years. Her mandibulectomy is Wednesday. I want to know how critical or serious is this surgery.

A doctor must wait for a full year to make certain everything has taken and there is no rejection before they are able to go in at the patients request and fine tune their work. When having a mandibulectomy there is alot of swelling so its not easy to make someone look perfect right from the start. Reconstruction is not a big deal but can make major changes in how someone looks, especially if they have had any complications.



***INA, please make your own thread for asking questions. It takes away from the original posters responses. I can help you if you need help.***


Ina, is your mother in law at a major cancer center like Johns Hopkins? Thats the very best bet for her with this major surgery. A cancer center will be more familiar with the procedure and will have a whole team of specialists on board helping to make important decisions regarding her individual situation.

What you described is where the doctor will be taking muscle, veins, tissue, skin, etc from one area and reusing it to replace what he is removing. Usually they use inside forearm material before they would consider it from another location. Sometimes Its thigh, breast (called a pec flap), hip, etc. But the forearm is usually used as its closest to the facial skin in appearance. When the doc removes part of the bone he will be replacing it with a piece of titanium. He will be taking some of her cheek and then will be covering it all up with skin from her armpit.

A mandibulectomy is a huge surgery. Mine was 10 hours long, some are 8 while others are 14. Its very invasive and she could have staples holding things together when she is finished. Make sure the doc gives her good pain medication. She could be in alot of pain from this for a couple day or weeks. Its a long recovery for some while others are ok in a month or 2. This is one example of where everybody really is different. They will all recover at their own pace. If she will have a trach ask for a possey muir valve so she can easily talk afterwards. Dont be surprised if the doctors dont keep her asleep for a day or two after this surgery. Someone should stay with her in the hospital to be her voice. In my opinion (speaking as someone who has had this surgery) she should not be left alone. She may not be quite herself when she comes out of this. But for others they are just amazing and bounce right back immediately. I was a bit of a slow poke with everything but I had some complications with mine.

Sorry Christine...noted that. Thanks

my cousin had his surgery and seems to be doing really good thank-you for the info.Ina I hope the best for your mother-inlaw I am new to this but ther are people on here that can help you with your questions good luck

[quote=freddy]my cousin had his surgery and seems to be doing really good thank-you for the info.Ina I hope the best for your mother-inlaw I am new to this but ther are people on here that can help you with your questions good luck [/quote]

Good to hear that your cousin is doing good. Thank you so much for your concern, it means so much to our family!! Joyce is post surgery over 48 hours. Not doing as well as we thought. It could be her being weak to start with. Been on a ventilator since her surgery, received blood transfusion last night and kidneys are being stabilized. I am very concerned Freddy being so far from her. Take care of your cousin. Your cousin is always in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for posting that your cousin is doing ok. Its a huge surgery and recovery can be long and difficult. Wishing your cousin a fast pain-free recovery.