Hi,
I've joined the site because my brother is recovering from his operation for mouth cancer. He's just started radio therapy. I was surprised that he is unable to open his mouth more than about half an inch and he has been told this is permanent due to cutting the muscles. Is there any hope that this could be rectified by plastic surgery.

Hi Pam welcome to the site. My name is Vicki. What kind of surgery did your brother have, how old is he, what kind of cancer did he have? Just need some facts if you know them, if not we will try to help you as best we can. Most of us on here have had neck dissection. I have had my tongue removed, my jaw replaced, my tonsils removed and so on. I cannot open my mouth but about half a inch either. But it is getting better. I have to work with it everyday. I couldn't at first because of all the healing. Ask his doctor if he can do some execrcises NOW that will help him alot down the road. I had my surgery in FEB 2004. I didn't move my mouth at all for 5 months. Which was a big big mistake. I am paying for it today. So what I do is: tongue depressers, at the doctors office. they are wood. I stack them and stick them in my mouth to make it open up and I leave them in for a few minutes. I do this about 10 times a day. Each day I add another one on if I can. Some days I can't so I just stack them until I cannot stack anymore. It hurts but I have to get this mouth to open back up. I wish your brother the best..Pam, don't forget about him...I have found that everyone is there when you are in the hospital and even a few days after you come home. Then nothing...Please stay in touch with him. Make it a visit every week...I never would have thought that people would forget about me, I was always there no matter what,,,but I am without visitors now...Always Vicki Lynn

Hello Pam

You will find my reply to John (lizd) will answer many of the questions you have.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee: