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Meet others living with Head & Neck Cancer: Introduce yourself
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 12 hours ago | Replies (507)Comment receiving replies
Welcome to Connect @lyndal. My father had that same surgery back in the early 90s when it was considered a new procedure. He recovered well from it, but it was a tough time. Others on this link have also had that surgery if you check through the list. Do you have a stomach tube for nutrition or are you able to take liquids and soft diet orally? I don't remember how long my dad had his stomach tube after surgery. Will you have any followup radiation or chemo?
I have metastatic squamous cell carcinoma but from ear canal origin, not oral. For 12 years I have had treatment at Mayo Clinic Rochester MN and feel blessed to be alive today. My last met was treated with a newer immunotherapy drug infusions for two years and has been controlled for 3 years now. There are new treatments now that were not available 30 years ago for my dad.
How is your recovery going?
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Hi Sue, my surgery was May 23. Had a trach and tube feed in nose. Was in the hospital for 10 days and they removed both before I went home. No feed tube now. I am able to drink liquids and soft diet, but the skin flap on left side of mouth is huge and not comfortable. They removed my teeth on lower jaw and put in a titanium plate. That isn't comfortable either. Pluse no sensation as they cut into nerve, but some is slowly coming back. Will be starting 5 weeks of radiation on July 2. Had a follow up appointment today and doctor said the flap should go down a lot after radiation. In the meantime it's uncomfortable and annoying, but I guess I have to be patient. And am truly grateful for a new chance at life. I am 69. Thank you for your welcome to group. I live in Canada.