Hello, my name is Bob and I have been coping with this disease since December 1998 where a sore wouldn't heal and was biopsied to discover that it was a squamous cell carcinoma. It was promptly removed in hospital.Then in 2002 a recurrence happened which was aggressive and recurrent. I was sent to a specialst doctor in NYC and he immediately arranged for an operation later that week. What he didnt tell me was what he had to do to me. It was a partial glossectomy with a left arm skin graft and left side neck dissection of my lymphnodes. I spent 9 days in hospital and many weeks of recovery. It was a shock to me the extent of the surgery and the trouble I had regaining my life eating and speaking correctly.
In 2003 it was arranged for me to have chemotherapy and radiation treatments at a local hospital. The 39 rads and 4 chemos really took a toll on me but I survived the ordeal which took about 3 months.
The treaments seemed to do the trick as I was cancer free for 3 years.
In July 2006 another tumor was found at the rear of my tongue. I was scheduled for another hospital visit on August 1st which lasted 8 days. AS the tumor was located at the rear of my tongue the surgeons had to crack open my jaw to remove the cancerous lump. Another partial glossectomy with skin graft from my right arm this time. A jaw plate was inserted into my chin to mend the area. Unfortunately with all the radiation treatments that went on before the plate had trouble healing and continued to drain from my chin. This went on for many months and many doctor's visits to try and ascertian why this was happening. I went back into hospital for a new jaw plate that didnt work and so I went back into hospital again to have the plate removed this time. That was in January of this year and now after my latest visit with the doctor they want me to go back into hospital again to see if they can clean out the chin area of any dead bone fragments and hope this relives me of the problem.
If this doesnt work then I face the possibility of getting a new chin from bone from my leg or shoulder. I am really scared me at the prospect of getting a new jaw and what the recovery period would be like.
I have not worked since October 2006 as I was let go because of my problems. I lack the confidence to return to work with this chin problem in the back of my mind.
Well this is a brief summary of my story to date and hope this helps ,educates or encourages someone who has similar troubles.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Take care.

Bob

Whoa Bob,
Another person to take on the roller coaster ride that is cancer.
We all live with the shadow that perhaps this disease may "get us again". How awful for you. Whenever you begin to get your life back it rears its ugly head yet again!
I really hope you reocover from all your problems. & i hope in time you can return to work and start to build your confidence again.
Welcome to the board.
Michelle

Thank you Michelle,
I appreciate your comments and encouragement.
I am trying to lead a normal life but I get tripped up from time to time. Its a persoanl battle with life and fortitude. I take one day at a time and live a anxious life with this disease. I wish it would all go away!!

Bye for now
Bob

Hello Bob

Thanks for sharing your story. You have had a really difficult ride with your mouth cancer! Let's hope your surgeons are able to sort out the dead bone in your jaw (osteoradionecrosis). Will you be having hyperbaric oxygen treatment before the surgery; it is said to increase the vascularity of the site with better prospects of healing. Good luck.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hello Bob. You have really had a time of it - hopefully your next treatment will be straighforward and all heals well and you won't have to undergo further surgery.

I have had my jawbone replaced with bone from my leg - well legs really as my tumour returned and I had to have the other side replaced too with bone from the other leg. Both operations were successful and I can speak o.k. thanks to a wonderful Speech Therapist, albeit with a slight slur. I did have a denture made but couldn't cope with it as there is nothing on the bottom jaw to attach a denture to! Consequently, I live on a puree'd diet. But, if you do have to have this op maybe you will have some teeth remaining with which to have a denture fitted or they will put enough thickness of bone in to have permanent teeth fitted. I know it all sounds very frightening but once you are over the op, life does get back to some normality. If I can answer any questions then please ask. Best wishes, Brenda .

Hello there Bob and welcome to this exclusive club that I sorry you have to join and that you have had such a bumpy ride so far with more to go.

I have found this a marvellous place to visit, there are always people who will advise, hold your hand and help you up when you’re feeling down.

All the best

Angie

Hi Bob,
I really think my tussle with cancer just pales away viewing what you have been through. I can atually feel your helplessness as I too have been through a lot and have taken a huge beating (Read Ananth's story if possible). All I can say is that ( for everyone) we as a family are all with you and you can depend on any of us to lend a helping hand or a shoulder.
However, as Dr. Joshi mentioned do try the hperbaric treatment as especially in our cases it is really beneficial. Oxygen tends to revive the healthy cells much faster and as the location of our cancers in oral - there is not much oxygen flow. The hyperbaric is a boon - as I went through it and can vouch for it.

Take care my friend,
Ananth

Thanks everyone for replying to my post.
I guess I neglected to mention in my first post that I have received hyperbaric treatments in January 2007. I managed to complete 30 sessions and it was considered a partial victory as the chin area continues to drip with only one day of complete dryness. I havent had many of those!

My next surgery is scehduled for May22 where my doctor will reopen my jaw and scope out the area for any dead bone fragments that may contribute to this problem. It will be a same day surgery so no hospital stay will be made. If this procedure doesnt work then I will have a new jaw which I am not looking forward to and I hope and pray that this surgery will work for me and I can get back to my life!
I havent worked since October 2006 where I was promply let go by my former boss who suggested that I concentrate on my health issue. I was with him for over 6 years. I was his personal driver. He was the Chief Financial Officer for American Express based here in New York City. I do miss the interaction I had with him and hope that I can find similar work in this field.
My hands are tied right now the upcoming surgery and hope the prospect of getting a new jaw will not impede my search for employment. I doubt it as the recovery period will lengthy and arduous. My speech is somewhat limited and I can interact with others if I put my mind to it. I continue to eat a soft food diet and cannot seem to get the real stuff down yet without any type of soup or gravy. I eat oatmeal everyday and wet scrambled eggs on Sundays. My wife has been such a wonderful help to me both mentally and physically. I am sure this whole cancer experience has taken a toll on her as well and she continues to be eternally optimistic about the future. I am sure she worried about the future as I am not working and not bringing in the bacon together with the ever increasing medical bills, it continues to be a worry.
Anyway I will close now and await your comments ans /or suggestions in the future.
If there are any questions that anyone has I will be honored to reply to them.

Thanks again for listening to my tale of woe. We are all in this mess together and maybe bring a smile or two to someone who is not having a good day.

Take care,
Bob

Bob,
been thinking of you. Hope everything went well for you yesterday. Keep in touch and keep smiling
Anne

Hey there,
Thanks for remembering me I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I went for my surgery yesterday and everything went well despite a late start because drs were running late. They manipulated my chin area, ccleaned it up and straightened my chin. They also took out my feeding tube after 8 months of being attached to me. It feels weird to be apart from it but I dont miss the daily cleaning of the tube!
Lets hope the doctors did the right thing and I will not have to worry about getting a new jaw later down the road.
I see the doctor again next Wednesday to see what he thinks about the surgery. I keep you up to date with any findings.

Take care
bob

Bob,
Will keep my fingures crossed it's worked for you this time! You deserve a break! Keep us updated!
Michelle

Hi there Chelle,
Thanks for your response. It was very thoughtful of you to think of me in my time of need. I am keeping everything crossed in the hope that the recent surgery will do the trick and I dont have to have a new jaw inserted on my face. I am definitely not looking forward to that prospect. I have been through so much already as we all have I am sure. We have to go through our battles with or without support from people near and far. Certainly this support group is an important part of that recovery process and I cannot thank you guys enough for all your love and support so far.

Goodbye until next time.
God Bless

Bob

I am seeing the doctor today for a follow up appointment from my surgery last Tuesday when I had a minor surgery done on my chin. I hope it goes well and I will let you know the outcome.

Take care,
Bob

Hope everything went OK

Angie

Hi Bob,
Hope you got ok. Let us know.

Michelle