Mouth and jaw cancer

THANKYOU for your advice it’s reading these stories that has lifted me x I’ve been worried so much x 

THANKYOU 

Lyn x ️

THANKYOU somuch x 

Hi hazel ,just read through your blog  ,very very helpful thank you ,my husband starts radiotherapy and chemotherapy on the 22nd he has a large tumour close to his tonsil ,your blog gave me good insight into the journey we will be going through ,you look so healthy now which has shown me there is light at the end of the tunnel,thank you again x

Hi June how are things with you let me know how your improving, I’m  waiting  on my June op, I’m so worried as surgeon has said it’s spreading, Ive noticed a lump under my tongue now, I’m so scared.

Hi Glad blog helped any questions just ask. Yes it’s hard slog but if I can do it anyone can it’s not easy but it’s doable. Take it one day at a time do t look too far in advance keep on top of pain meds and update the radiotherapy team about any issues.  
Hazel x

Hi Tiadora Just thought I'd let you know that you're honestly not alone. I had exactly the same op as you in late September last year. I have never been so terrified in my life. I was shaking, couldn't sleep, and fould the three weeks before surgery so frightening. Felt like I was in a nightmare from which I couldn't awaken. Came the day,  I was 14 hours in surgery then 3 days in IC; totally woozy the first day, and then fine the day after. Moved to a little ward on day 3 with 3 other mouth/neck patients, and felt very little pain. Any time I started to feel any pain (mostly in neck after dissection and removal of 42 lymph nodes) I was given Oromorph (Morphine) by the nursing staff whenever I asked for it. I felt very little pain from my leg (the fibula donation site) , and also from the skin graft donation site on my thigh (about 8cm square in my case). Staff encouraged me to get up and sit in the chair next to my bed from day 3 on. On day 4 the physioterrorist arrived bearing a walker frame and told me that OK, now we were going for a walk around the wards and corridors! Walk lasted about 5 minutes, and would have been easy apart from the whacking great walker boot on my leg, which was far too big, and very cumbersome. Had to sleep in it as well. Never mind! The cancerous jaw had been removed, and I was alive! Had woken up from surgery with a nasogastric tube (NG) up my nose for feeding, drains coming out of my neck and chest, also out of my leg wound, and big plaster on the thigh skin graft site. Also had a urinary catheter, which was removed after 5 days. By day 6 I was able to talk well enough to be understood .Drains were removed and I was being encouraged to walk around the wards and corridors as much as I could. Day 7 I was managing to swallow water, and soft pureed food in small amounts. Day 11 --- I was allowed to go home. I had radiotherapy for 6 weeks, 5 days a week, from late November through to early January, which is another story altogether. I so hope that you will overcome that awful shock of diagnosis, and terror about what is going to happen.  I'm here for you, and very happy to talk any time, before or after your surgery. Any questions, or just for companionship whilst you're waiting.

Hi sheelagh THANKYOU so much I go in for op Monday op Tuesday I was toldI couldn’t eat or drink I have a peg fitted in my tummy for it, but I’m hoping I’ll be ok I’m a fighter so I won’t give up on it all. I have to have my teeth out etc so we’ll see x radiotherapy six weeks after wish me luck and yes keep in touch please x 

Hi there Tiadora, Bodhiprem gave you a brilliant lo down of all the procedures, my experience was much the same with a few tweaks here and there, every team seem to have a slightly different take on things, but basically the same.  I shall be thinking of you, Monday when you go in hospital for the prep stuff will probably give you the colly wobbles, hopefully you will get some sleep. Have confidence in your team, that’s all you have to do, they will do the rest.

June x

Hi June thanks so much I’m sure I’ll be ok I’m trusting my surgeons as I’ve no other options obviously but I need to get better move on and feel happier again I’m determined x thanks both sheleigh  and you for lifting my spirits x