Hi My 84 year old Aunt was diagnosed with an oral melanoma today. THe Consultant said that although extensive he did not feel that it was advanced because it wasn't very thick.

He is proposing operating and removing part of her top pallette, a section of her jaw and all the molars on one side of her face.

Since she is 84 and in poor health, has leaking heart valves, angina nad lung disease she was concerned about such radical surgery and whether she would benefit from it or whether she would be better to let the doisease take its natural progression.

She asked how successful surgery was likely to be, what the Surgeons definition of success was and if she agreed to surgery what she could expect post operation in terms of complications - e.g. would she be able to talk, chew, swallow, would her face lose its shape and sink, when would they give her replacement teeth etc.

Whilst not openly refusing to answer her questions the Consultant provided her with no answers merely saying that it was in her best interest to have the operation.

Can anyone advise on what she can expect if she agrees?

Welcome to the site. My surgery included tongue and tonsil with no jaw involvement, but there is sure to be someone on the board that can help you out. Oral surgery is no walk in the park no matter what your age. The recovery is long and painful.

We are here to help! God Bless
Lynn

Hello Tez, You have found a site that is made up of cancer survivors, caregivers and sometimes professionals in health care. Your question is a challenging one. Melanoma is usually a more difficult cancer to beat compared to Squamous cell Carcinoma (the more common oral cancer) quality of life is an important consideration and if I were you I would seek more professional opinions.

Take good care

Tez,

You have come to a place where everyone lives with cancer daily. All of our circumstances are so unique as is your Aunt's. Whatever course she chooses for herself will be very difficult. As Mark is suggesting, you should seek out more opinions of professionals that are trained and have experience to help guide your Aunt through one of the most difficult decisions she has ever had to make.

Your Aunt is blessed to have someone that cares so much about her by her side through this. I wish you and her the best possible outcome.

Ed

Hi Tez,
I guess no one else mentioned that oral melanoma is fairly uncommon. There have only been a few visitors here with it. I believe that the treatment isn't much different than SCC so I would be getting opinions from a radiation oncologist, oncologist and head & neck surgeon as Mark and Ed recommended. The main difference, I think, is that for a surgical solution they usually have much greater margins due to the aggressivenss of melanoma.

If they have anything equivalent to a comprehensive cancer center in the UK, that's where I would be going.

Pain management is a basic patient right so she shouldn't need to suffer in any case.

I had an advanced cancer and it was treated successfully with radiation and chemo alone.

Cancer death usually occurs when the tumor invades an organ, interferes with the blood supply or nervous system. If she decides to forgo curative treatment they may recommend palliative care which may consist of treatment as aggressive as seeking a cure. This is typically done to minimize pain and suffering.

There have others in their 80's who have undergone treatment and are still surviving.

Hi Tez
The consultants that I have seen here in the UK have always involved me giving me all the options to consider.. Is she at a good head and neck center? could her dentist offer some independent advice.. Welcome to this site though... it's a good place to start..
take care
Helen