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#201945 07-12-2023 02:31 AM
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Has anyone had to deal with popped stitches on neck after surgery? As I mentioned before I had a few pop last month, now I have a spot about the size of a quarter on my neck.

Luckily it doesn’t hurt, I’m keeping it clean, covered, and packed with gauze soaked in sterile water.

The size and shape is almost exactly the scope of the last 2 tumors pulled out since April.

Any clues on how to speed up the healing process?

Other than that everything is just peachy, I’ve been ravenously hungry the last couple of days, must’ve put a total of 6 pints of stuff in yesterday, I feel like the dogs...just pull a buncha leftovers out of the fridge, but, instead of on a plate, I throw it all in the blender....come to think of it, they help me clean the blender. They like to lick a spoon of my “concoctions” before I rinse. Woof! I am like the dogs.


1st time around was 2010, Sqamous Cell Carcinoma. Radiation, chemo, surgery: Radical neck dissection.
Cancer free until 2021.
This time around, started 2021, tumors on tongue.
May 2021 partial glossectomy, October ‘21 removal of a few more recurring on tongue.
February til May 2022 immunotherapy....no improvement
July 2022, total glossectomy, living the new normal.
PET February’23 another SCC on neck....next surgery April ‘23, see where it goes from here.
Still fighting.
Sutlerjim #201946 07-12-2023 06:14 PM
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I kept my stitches covered with anti bacteria gel and I still got bad infection they sent culture to lab the dr told me the germs likely came from my mouth because I wasn't able to brush properly I thought I would share the problem I had with stitches. Goodluck.

Sutlerjim #201948 07-19-2023 04:00 AM
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So far so good,
The hole is healing fairly well, it’s down to about the diameter of a nickel and getting shallower.
The gauze with saline sterile water packing and covering is working.

Working outside in this heat, chasing the chickens and fighting the grumpy and aggressive rooster hasn’t hampered at all.


1st time around was 2010, Sqamous Cell Carcinoma. Radiation, chemo, surgery: Radical neck dissection.
Cancer free until 2021.
This time around, started 2021, tumors on tongue.
May 2021 partial glossectomy, October ‘21 removal of a few more recurring on tongue.
February til May 2022 immunotherapy....no improvement
July 2022, total glossectomy, living the new normal.
PET February’23 another SCC on neck....next surgery April ‘23, see where it goes from here.
Still fighting.
Sutlerjim #201958 08-15-2023 04:27 PM
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Saw the Dr today, the area of the popped stitches is mostly closed. It was deep enough that he believes there is tiny amount of hyoid bone still exposed!

No worries he assured me, it will close up completely, or not, says to give it a bit more time and keep it clean.

On the other hand, after looking through my nose and down my throat (with what felt like a movie camera on a garden hose) he sat back and slapped his hands on his thighs and sighed *”Finally”* I’m guessing he doesn’t have to cut on me anymore!!

See me in a couple months, good luck with dentures, getting them reclined on Friday (I hope). Then I can start looking ahead to the palate drop prosthetic and maybe some clear speechifying in the not too distant future.

Not a bad day, I think.


1st time around was 2010, Sqamous Cell Carcinoma. Radiation, chemo, surgery: Radical neck dissection.
Cancer free until 2021.
This time around, started 2021, tumors on tongue.
May 2021 partial glossectomy, October ‘21 removal of a few more recurring on tongue.
February til May 2022 immunotherapy....no improvement
July 2022, total glossectomy, living the new normal.
PET February’23 another SCC on neck....next surgery April ‘23, see where it goes from here.
Still fighting.
1 member likes this: Nels
Sutlerjim #201963 08-18-2023 08:43 PM
Joined: Jun 2021
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Thanks for sharing, great to hear you are on the mend!!

Steve


steve
72 yo
SCC 2009
Radiation/Chemo, clear 2010
Active triathlete
NPO and bad voice after 12 years
But doing great

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