#4991 02-12-2005 09:50 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | I had my surgery on Friday and am home. Everything went well and as planned.....been a long time since that's happened for me!
I had reconstructive surgery to my neck scar, improving that so much that I thought I would cry today. Had my trach scar revised so that it is smaller and less noticable. My bottom left lip had fallen in quite a bit so that was fixed and for that I am grateful. They took fat from my thigh (there is plenty of it now thanks to my new thyroid issues) and used it to build up my lip and they did an awesome job. My daughters call me Angelina Jolie now, my lips are so swollen. The pain is not bad, mostly in my neck and from my face swelling up, I've only taken a few tylenol so far. I do have a horrible time with anesthia, it makes me throw up for hours, so that didn't help with the pain. Tonight I am feeling pretty good, have a bag of frozen peas to help get the swelling down.
It's been an interesting process getting my "looks" back to normal. I'm amazed with what they can do and would suggest it to anyone that is bothered by scars or by tethering of their neck. Mine is looser already.
Now come the implants.......another adventure on the horizon!
Take care everyone,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#4992 02-12-2005 10:39 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Minnie Fantastic news, when the swelling goes down, I want glam pics sending... Just so pleased that you had a Doc that listened to you about these issues... Can you do a full Marilyn Monro pout yet? ? ?  Sunshine...love and hugs Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#4993 02-12-2005 11:39 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 | Hi Minnie,
That's wonderful news! I'm so happy for you. You've been through so much that it's nice to hear that someone's surgery made someone want to cry "happy tears!" Here's hoping the swelling subsides real soon and I'll be looking to see your picture on the cover of a magazine real soon?!?
Hugs, Nancy
Stage IV oral cancer (tongue), T3N2, total glossectomy with right and left modified neck dissection 7/03, rad /chemo ended 11/03
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#4994 02-12-2005 02:47 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Hey Minnie,
I am so happy for you! Sounds like everything just went so well and I know you must be thrilled with the new lips!!!
God bless and take care!
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#4995 02-12-2005 03:25 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 | Minnie,
I'm so glad to hear that everything went well, that's great news!
Best regards,
D
Mom's caregvr. DDS failed to dx 01/03. Dx Stg IV SCC 05/03. Induct. chemo, IMRT, 5FU, H, Iressa, Neck disect, radiation. Dad's caregvr. Dx 01/04 Ext. Stg SCLC. Mets to liver/bone 08/04. Died 11/12/04. Mom tongue CA dx 06/13, hemiglossectomy (80% removed) 08/13. Clean margins and nodes, but PNI. 6/15/15: Tongue CA at base of remnant tongue. Declined further tx; hospice.
Died 10/13/15. What a long and difficult journey.
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#4996 02-12-2005 06:01 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Thanks everyone. Nancy, I agree, it was nice to look in the mirror, see all the stitches and bandages but be HAPPY about it! My children are just amazed and thrilled. My 10 year old said "this is the best day of my life, I got my dance costume and mom got her real face". It was so funny. I knew that there would be some improvement, but it is so strange to walk by a mirror and I see myself now, not that stranger with the left side of her face larger then the rest. I am still stunned that the results are so wonderful.
Helen.....I can do Goldie Hawn lips without even puckering up, lol. It's a very strange feeling. The doc said they will get to normal size within the week.
Biggest developments I had today is lots of bruising, but I expected it. Bags of frozen peas are the BEST thing for faces.
Take care,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#4997 02-13-2005 06:30 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 117 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 117 | Minnie,
Congratulations on your surgery! I am so happy for you but I can't imagine how happy you must be. My neck scar is slightly tethered down right in front and it makes me crazy (very minor) so I you must be ecstatic to be free!
Barb
SCC tongue, stage I (T1N0M0), partial glossectomy and modified neck dissection 7/1/03
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#4998 02-13-2005 07:20 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Minnie, I am so HAPPY to hear of your surgery and good results. I am visiting a surgeon on 2/21, to discuss some reconstruction on my flap and I am definitely asking about the neck scar! God Bless You and take care! Love, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#4999 02-13-2005 09:27 AM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 156 | well done minnie im so pleased for u and thanks for sharing. best wishes maz | | |
#5000 02-13-2005 09:50 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | That's great Minnie. So glad it went so well. Curl up to that bag of frozen peas and hope you'll being seeing your old/new self in no time.
Take acre,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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