Trans oral robotic surgery

Hi Amanda 

I had robotic surgery 3 weeks ago. My consultant suspected that my primary cancer was in my left tonsil. I had both tonsils removed snd base of my tongue both sides removed robotically. I also had biopsies taken from my naval cavity and oesophagus. The primary has been found in the base of my left tonsil, and it is going to be removed again robotically this Thursday. After the operation the first week wasn’t too bad, the second week I will not lie it was painful, the third week much better, and able to eat normally. Please take the pain meds even if you don’t feel too bad, you need to get them into your system. I hope this helps 

Debbie

I had TORS too Amanda. It’s no different to ordinary surgery other than it’s extremely precise and less traumatic to the mouth as the instruments can easily reach areas of the mouth and throat that a surgeon’s hands can’t. It takes a little longer as it takes time to set up all the equipment. Afterwards though you will go through the same stages of recovery as anyone else. It’ll be sore for a couple of weeks but will heal. TORS is regarded as ‘cutting edge’, if you’ll pardon the pun, and not all hospitals can do it. Wishing you all the best, M

Hi Amanda - welcome to the very exclusive sub-club or this exclusive club!  Those who have cancer of unknown primary (CUP). 

It can be a worrying time not knowing exactly where the cancer is, but your clinical team know what they are doing.  Although I've not had TORS (I was slated for ordinary surgery). I am guessing that most of the pain difference will be not because of the actual surgery, but more to do with the access to the site and the stretching they will have to do to get the robot in there.  Better than having a surgeon's hands in there!

I am in a similar position to you with not having anything other than surgery for my treatment.  Nice to be slightly off the normal path 

Hi Amanda

I had robotic surgery to remove the tumour from the base of my tongue plus a neck dissection done at the same time.

I had a biopsy a few weeks prior to my op which was uncomfortable but nothing like the TORS wich I found incredibly painful.  I was informed it would be awful for 4 weeks but that it would then miraculously feel better and my consultant was absolutely right.   Lots of painkillers etc were prescribed to help.

Do you know which hospital you're being referred to?

Linda x

Thankyou everyone I feel such a baby asking about pain , I was in so much pain with the first throat surgery and the pain killers gave me a awfull bad painful stomach as I have an intolerance to the high end stuff, I've been referred to heartlands in Birmingham for the robotic surgery they are removing both sides of base of tongue even though cancer has not been found from any of my biopsies but apparently if I have this done I won't have to have radiotherapy so I'm happy to try it, the hospital and NHS have been amazing and the support is second to none .

You're not a baby at all Amanda.  It's perfectly natural to be worried about the pain after you've already experienced it with the tonsil op.  I havn't had my tonsils removed but I've heard how excrutiatingly painful it is for adults so I can't imagine that the TORS will be any worse than that.  

No being a baby about tonsil, or any other, pain!!  But now you know the pattern that pain brings and you can be sure that by day 10 or so it will be rapidly on the wain.