Hello, survivors!
I had a sugical intervention on September 2nd., due to tonge cancer (T1). A third of my tongue was cut, and I had a neck dissection. During the surgical intervention, a neck bundle of nerved was severed. The consequence is that now , whenever I open the mouth, it is loopsided. I have an ugly loopsided smile. The surgeon does not pay much attention to a (mere) esthetic consequence.
an anyone tell me if this symptom fades away with time? Is there any treatment I could take?

Thanks to you all

Hi
Firstly they should be paying attention to your needs and how the treatment effects you. Talk to them about it.
Secondly you are a beautiful person and so your smile will not and never could be ugly.
Thirdly I have a similar condition - maybe not as bad I don't know, maybe it is worse - it makes me shuidder sometimes when I see myself buyt hey that is how I am now and I am learning (it's taking a while) to live with it.
Fourthly - God I bore myself sometimes - my daughter had bells palsy and accupuncture seemed to help. Her nereves were damaged by shingles - not cut - but it may be beneficial. I don't really know if I vbelieve in it but people swear by it and there is little doubt it helped my duaghter.
Fifth - physiotherapy might help - excercises. I think it does improve over time.

EWhenever I am feeling bad about it I remember - Hey but at least I'm still alive and I nearly wasn't!

Hope that helps - it was meant to. All the best
Here's hoping I am in more pain than you are

Tony

Hi Shoshana

From what you've said in previous posts, your doctor doesn't seem to listen to you. Tony's right--he SHOULD be paying attention to you (to the degree that any doctor can). The fact that he says it's just a matter of aesthetics indicates that he's disinterested at best.

The nerves might heal over time--remember, you're just over a month post-op, anything is going to take time. Heck, I'm 56 months out and I still get strange sensations in my flap and in my arm (birthplace of Flappy). When I touch the skin around my dissection scar it almost feels like someone else has their fingers there. Accupuncture might work, physiotherapy might work.

Let us know how things turn out.

Julia

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Julia,

Dear Julia and Tony, thank you for your encouraging answers. Yesterday it was my birthday, and I smiled all day though, loopsided or not!
Here are some photos... http://picasaweb.google.com/sf...#5390200881502276786 , http://picasaweb.google.com/sf...#5390201291813446706
The doctor who has been seeing me through the process until now is a surgeon, very efficient as such, but concerned only about the intervention and its ulterior development, and less about the patient. I am searching for a physicist who can coordinate all the healing and control process from now on.
I am also looking for an expert in acupuncture, following your advice...
You are right, I´m just five weeks past my intervention, so I´m trying to practice parytience... but most of all, I´M ALIVE!

Love

Shosahana

Hi Shoshana

I had the same surgery as you on 10th October last year and was very conscious of my lopsided smile. I keep my mouth closed when I smile as I am very conscious of it. I cried shortly after surgery when I saw a photo of myself with my lopsided smile (I'd obviously forgotten to keep my mouth shut!!) One year on it has improved naturally but is still slightly lopsided. I have been offered physiotherapy by the speech therapist as they say they can give me exercises to help the lip recover more quickly.

You will learn to live with it and in time it will improve.

Good Luck

Louise

Hey you look great - I can't even see a problem!
Keep smiling all the time!

Tony