| Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 4 | My husband had surgery two weeks ago to remove a tumor on his tongue. Tonight, while brushing his teeth, he spit out what looks like his skin graft. We saved it to show the surgeon on Monday, but he is freaked out. Is it the skin graft, or a bandage? Has anyone experienced this? I looked at his tongue and it appears healthy. No bleeding, infection, or redness. He's in a panic and I'm looking for info. Have you had this happen to you? Thanks
wife of man diagnosed with Stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma of tongue Jan 2015. Finished Brachytherapy in May. Now what?
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | I cant remember this happening to any other members in the almost 8 years Ive been here. Thats not to say it wouldnt be possible, I have heard of graphs failing. Im very sorry that I dont have a more definitive answer for you. Please understand, our group is made up of fellow patients and caregivers, we lack the years of medical school and training.
You are doing the best thing by seeing the doctor on Monday. If your husband starts bleeding alot or if any major swelling then err on the side of caution and go to the ER right away.
Please keep us posted with what the doc says Monday. Wishing your husband all the best with his recovery. 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 | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 | I�ve had a few skin grafts inside my lower lip and on my tongue flap. About 2 weeks after the first graft it started turning purplish and the borders began fraying. Surrounding edges and small pieces of the graft started breaking away - I totally freaked because I thought it wasn�t healing. Immediately I contacted my surgeon and went to see her, she assured me it was ok - tissue under the graft was healthy pink and healing well. Grafts are different from flaps. Flaps need their own blood supply, so if a flap changes colour or falls off that usually means blood supply has stopped flowing within the flap and the flap is dead.
Good luck with your appointment.
46 yrs: Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0 Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs 30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin, 30 x HBO Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy (hip bone to reconstruct jaw) Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw Mar'09 Debulk flap Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 4 | Thank you for the feedback. It was the skin graft that fell out, but the tissue underneath is healthy. Scary, but ok.
Last edited by Raven; 04-30-2015 03:38 PM.
wife of man diagnosed with Stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma of tongue Jan 2015. Finished Brachytherapy in May. Now what?
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