Can anyone provide any information on this type of cancer? My father has been diagnosed with this a few days ago. I do not have all information as of yet as they are still running tests. But they have already scheduled a surgery for next Friday to remove a portion of his mandabile bone and replace this bone with the fibula bone (sorry if I am spelling these things wrong)I am looking to find out any and all information from someone who has experienced this type of cancer. They are stating that it is over a 12 hour surgery. I would like to know how bad this type of cancer is? What stage is it if they are doing this type of operation? What is the prognosis, recovery etc.

Dear learning, I am so sorry to hear of your Dad's diagnosis and upcoming surgery. It is hard on all of you to deal with, I know. If you will go to the main OCF site and type in "mandible" in the search section, you will come up with some good information about this type of cancer. If you go through the OCF forum search (top of this page) you will pull up some information and posts from members who have gone through this operation and can tell you first hand how they did!
You will all get through this, honest!
I am glad you found this forum, it has really helped me get a handle on what's going on with this cancer, and I am sure it will help you too.
Best wishes,
Andrea

Learning, I had this same surgery along with radiation almost 4 years ago. I would be happy to talk to you about it further. There are SO many details involved, if you could give me a list of questions I can give you more detailed answers.
Minnie

I had 40% of my jaw removed and rebuilt in June of 2006. I was in surgery for 17 hours, much of which is due to the micro-vascular work they need to do.

What they will do is to use the fibula and surrounding tissue as a transplant, with no risk of rejection. The long surgery is due to the myriad of blood vessels they need to connect to ensure adequate bloodflow and ultimately survival of the donor tissue. It's a long, arduous process, however I woke up able to talk and began to eat soft foods within 48 hours.

Staging is not something that you can really determine based on the treatment protocol. That's something that your Dad's Doctor should be able to tell you definitively. I believe that surgery is an unpleasant reality of this disease as often as not.

It's not an easy surgery, for sure. I was in hospital for nearly 2 weeks, with a tracheotomy and a gastric tube for much of the time. Again, not at all pleaseant, but managable. I found the radiation that followed to be much more difficult overall.

Oral Cancer is dangerous, and survival rates are not a lot better than they were decades ago. It's also NOT a death sentence. The medical professionals at comprehensive cancer centers are fantastic, and getting better almost every day. Seek out the best you can find, and listen to what they say. Your Dad can beat this, and so can you
Wayne

I have been a now 5 year survivor of "basal tongue carcinoma". My wife is doing the connection as I am computer illiterate..
My otolaryncologist continues to tell me that I must live with not being able to speak or eat.
Due to surgery, my jaw and teeth are deteriorated and very painful...I need a transplant, but can't get an answer. Where do I start to look..I have called several oral surgeons and have seen a couple of them, however, they continue to irritate the area.

Thank you, Ray Heenan

I have been a now 5 year survivor of "basal tongue carcinoma". My wife is doing the connection as I am computer illiterate..
My otolaryncologist continues to tell me that I must live with not being able to speak or eat.
Due to surgery, my jaw and teeth are deteriorated and very painful...I need a transplant, but can't get an answer. Where do I start to look..I have called several oral surgeons and have seen a couple of them, however, they continue to irritate the area.

Thank you, Ray Heenan

Ray,

Can you tell us some more about your diagnosis and what type of surgery you had? Also, have you been treated at one of the major cancer centers? (There is a list of NCI-designated cancer centers under Other Resources on this website.) Did you have radiation in addition to surgery?

Once you've had surgery and/or radiation for oral cancer, it's very important to have follow-ups with ENTs and dental professionals who have specific experience with this kind of cancer, and to have them doing regular checkups on teeth and gums to try to head off problems before they become too severe.

Cathy

Ray,

I would start your own post so that others will be able to identify your post quickly and this post can maintain it's line of posting.