Maxillectomy

Morning Ingrid

Im really sorry you’ve found yourself here in our exclusive little club.

Ive not had that experience but I know of others who have and I’m certain they will be along shortly to chat with you.

Take care

Sharon xx

Hi Ingrid , welcome to Macmillan Head and neck ,i have had similar but mine was all on the lower jawbone where they removed part of my jaw and teeth and reconstructed it with a bone from my leg. It sounds as if yours is more involved because of the orbital floor which i dont know anything about, i can try and answer any question ,worries or concerns so feel free to ask away . Best wishes ,take care .

                                                                                             Chris x

Hi Ingrid 

Just wanted to say hi m sorry can’t help you specifically my cancer was tonsil cancer h p v 16 + .Chris is very knowledgeable he will help as much as he can. Trust your team our NHS are wonderful at cancer treatments .Am sure others will pop in the sits just had a re vamp so will take a while for some to get used to the changes .Keep in touch  

Hazel x

Hi, I've had a partial maxillectomy which involved removing the right side of my jaw and roof of my mouth.  I now have an obturator to close the gap in the roof of my mouth, which is like a denture with a lump on the top.  I had the operation last October, followed by six weeks of radiotherapy.

Hi Ingrid

Sorry to hear that you need to have a maxillectomy. It is a bit of a shock when you get cancer and then need a big operation. Hope all goes well for you.

I had a maxillectomy late last year and then 6 weeks of radiotherapy. It was my second bout of cancer as I had to have a partial mandibulectomy  6 years previously so had already lost part of my jaw and all the teeth on the right side of my lower jaw.

With the maxillectomy I was given the choice of either having a graft taken from my arm to cover the open sinus where part of my palate was removed  or to have an obturator which is like a dental plate with teeth attached that covers the open sinus. I opted for the obturator as I was already a bit toothless and wanted to have teeth as soon as possible to help with eating and also a bit of vanity.

If I had gone with the graft it takes a lot longer to get a teeth as you have to wait for the healing process and radiotherapy before they start to make the dental plate.

During radiotherapy you don’t take the obturator out as your mouth is very sore so it gets too hard to remove.  I have a wonderful specialist dentist and she made the obturator and looked after me during the radiotherapy.

I have been very happy with the obturator but you have to be prepared to go to multiple dental appointments with your specialist dentist to have adjustments. The obturator is put in during the maxillectomy operation and is only the initial one as a final one is made later.

I am just in the process of having my final obturator made. It hasn’t helped me as much as I had hoped with eating but it shouldn’t be a problem for you as you will still have teeth on the other side of your mouth.

I did find the operation a little challenging and you have to be prepared for a short term tracheotomy for a few days during your recovery when you are unable to speak at all. You have to be creative trying to say you are too cold and need an extra blanket or are too hot. In the end I was given a paper and pencil and that helped. It is only for a few days though.

The pain killers made me a little spaced out for a while but the staff in Intensive Care were so great and knew exactly what I needed. I couldn’t fault them.

You also have to be prepared for a feeding tube for a few days as well. The speech pathologist got me eating again as soon as possible and was very helpful and the feeding tube was taken out before I left hospital.

It does take a little while to get back on your feet but things improve day by day and now 9 months after the operation and radiotherapy I am getting on really well . You just have to be patient and realise that there are good and bad days and hang in there.

Sorry this has turned into rather an essay  but hope some of the info. might be helpful.

All the best to you  and hope that all goes well .

Lyn (AKA Sophie66)

Hi Ingrid

Sorry to hear that you need to have a maxillectomy. It is a bit of a shock when you get cancer and then need a big operation. Hope all goes well for you.

I had a maxillectomy late last year and then 6 weeks of radiotherapy. It was my second bout of cancer as I had to have a partial mandibulectomy  6 years previously so had already lost part of my jaw and all the teeth on the right side of my lower jaw.

With the maxillectomy I was given the choice of either having a graft taken from my arm to cover the open sinus where part of my palate was removed  or to have an obturator which is like a dental plate with teeth attached that covers the open sinus. I opted for the obturator as I was already a bit toothless and wanted to have teeth as soon as possible to help with eating and also a bit of vanity.

If I had gone with the graft it takes a lot longer to get a teeth as you have to wait for the healing process and radiotherapy before they start to make the dental plate.

During radiotherapy you don’t take the obturator out as your mouth is very sore so it gets too hard to remove.  I have a wonderful specialist dentist and she made the obturator and looked after me during the radiotherapy.

I have been very happy with the obturator but you have to be prepared to go to multiple dental appointments with your specialist dentist to have adjustments. The obturator is put in during the maxillectomy operation and is only the initial one as a final one is made later.

I am just in the process of having my final obturator made. It hasn’t helped me as much as I had hoped with eating but it shouldn’t be a problem for you as you will still have teeth on the other side of your mouth.

I did find the operation a little challenging and you have to be prepared for a short term tracheotomy for a few days during your recovery when you are unable to speak at all. You have to be creative trying to say you are too cold and need an extra blanket or are too hot. In the end I was given a paper and pencil and that helped. It is only for a few days though.

The pain killers made me a little spaced out for a while but the staff in Intensive Care were so great and knew exactly what I needed. I couldn’t fault them.

You also have to be prepared for a feeding tube for a few days as well. The speech pathologist got me eating again as soon as possible and was very helpful and the feeding tube was taken out before I left hospital.

It does take a little while to get back on your feet but things improve day by day and now 9 months after the operation and radiotherapy I am getting on really well . You just have to be patient and realise that there are good and bad days and hang in there.

Sorry this has turned into rather an essay  but hope some of the info. might be helpful.

All the best to you  and hope that all goes well .

Lyn (AKA Sophie66)

Thank you so much this is really helpful. Ingrid