Oral cancer and after effects

Hi Charlie. 
there are lots of us to chat with 

Tell us a little more about yourself. Where was your cancer? What treatment did you have? When did you finish ? Would be a good start. 
It would help all of us if you could put a potted history in your profile too. 

Hi, welcome to the group. You can expect lots of support here. What exactly are you struggling with?

Hi, thank you for your message, ok, my name is not Charlie but didn’t want to be too known, it’s Tia! I have had lower oral plate surgery 3years ago, can’t move my head to the right now,  struggle with eating, struggle with all the scars and an huge graft scar, I’m sure I sound unappreciative but I am just  struggling 

Hi Tia. There are late effects clinics dotted about the country. There may be exercises you can be given and there are some places that are experimenting with laser light therapy. Did you have radiotherapy? 

Charlie1944 said:

 struggle with eating, struggle with all the scars and an huge graft scar, I’m sure I sound unappreciative but I am just  struggling 

Please don’t apologise. When we get diagnosed with cancer we are so grateful and relieved to be told that we will survive that all we do is concentrate on the treatment and immediate survival. Late effects are the most serious complication and some of us have to live with considerably life limiting ones. There isn’t enough after care. So you’re right to ask for help. Saving our lives isn’t enough.

What sort of foods are you managing? 
Do you have a Maggie’s near you? The folk there are absolutely brilliant. It might help dropping in for a chat. 
Please give our support line a ring too. They may be able to point you in the right direction. 

Hi Tia

Most, if not all, of us struggled, ask anything at anytime I'm sure there will be someone to chat with most of the time.

Hi Tia. The long term effects after our cancer treatment can be difficult to cope with. I too have long term effects after 3 ops for jaw cancer and 2 lots of radiotherapy over several years. I think most of us have some after effects unfortunately some more than others. It takes a long time to adjust to our new normal and I have found that even after that I still have good  days and not so good days. Days when I find eating is such a struggle and get a bit fed up with it and then other days when I get involved in activities that I love and then don't think about the struggles. I have found for me that it is a day by day process although I really do enjoy life still and am involved in lots of activities and am so grateful for the skill of my medical team. I have found that chatting to others on this forum has really helped me. There are other people out there who understand and have experienced something similar and that is comforting for me. On the whole my good days outweigh my not so good days and that is great. Asking for help is the first step so good on you.

Wishing you all the best.

Lyn