floor of mouth resection

flowerlady2
flowerlady2 Member Posts: 2
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Please help. I'm in an absolute panic,I was diagnosed on August 18th with Squamos cell carcinoma in the floor of my mouth.I just met with a surgical team the other day and they want to do a floor of the mouth resection and take a skin graft from my thigh to rebuild the floor of my mouth along with a neck dissection .They said my tongue would be held down somehow so that the graft would take and that I would have a feeding tube down my nose for a little while.I was wondering if anyone has had this done and could tell me how to get through it and what it was like.It sounds horrible. Head and neck cancer is the worst.I always thought i was a strong person but now i realize what a coward i am. I dont know how to move forward in my mind without being scared to death.I would be most grateful for any of your thoughts on this.You all seem highly knowledgeable and caring.I believe I am a stage 3 with cancer found in one lymph node so far.Thanks

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    edited September 2016 #2
    welcome

    flowerlady2,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, I am very sorry that you are here.

    I was stage IVa scc, bot, I lymph node, hpv+ (surgery, rads & Erbitux).  It is different from yours, but has many of the same treatment side effects.  There are members who have had surgery with skin grafts to repair.  Of course it is scary, like most of us you were just living a normal life and then this.

    Some members with first-hand experience will hopefully read your post and respond.

    We may start out as cowards, but get brave and smart fast.  To help you, please skim through the superthread.

    Matt

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    Welcome Flowerlady...

    to the club nobody wants to join.

    The surgery they are considering is pretty common with HNC....they resect tongues, cheeks, and various other places with grafts from the thigh and arm.  They tie the graft in with the tongue to get a good blood supply, which means quicker healing...and quicker to get back to life.  I didn't have this done as my cancer was behind my nose....but there are people here who have had resections done and I'm sure they will pipe in with experience.

    There isn't a soul here who didn't come in with SCARED stamped on their forehead...we've all been right where you are.  You will truly find out that you are strong...this scared part is just a phase (trust me on this....I was so scared I was dizzy).  If they are talking nasal tube, then they really do feel that you will be eating on your own soon. 

    Come in here and spill the fear....it's much better than bottling it up....we will hold your hand, and tuck you under our wings till you get through this.

    p

  • flowerlady2
    flowerlady2 Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2016 #4
    phrannie51 said:

    Welcome Flowerlady...

    to the club nobody wants to join.

    The surgery they are considering is pretty common with HNC....they resect tongues, cheeks, and various other places with grafts from the thigh and arm.  They tie the graft in with the tongue to get a good blood supply, which means quicker healing...and quicker to get back to life.  I didn't have this done as my cancer was behind my nose....but there are people here who have had resections done and I'm sure they will pipe in with experience.

    There isn't a soul here who didn't come in with SCARED stamped on their forehead...we've all been right where you are.  You will truly find out that you are strong...this scared part is just a phase (trust me on this....I was so scared I was dizzy).  If they are talking nasal tube, then they really do feel that you will be eating on your own soon. 

    Come in here and spill the fear....it's much better than bottling it up....we will hold your hand, and tuck you under our wings till you get through this.

    p

    thank you

    Thank you so much for your comments .I feel exactly that way now .Whenever I think about what theyre going to do do me i get in a panic and feel sick to my stomach.I gues I was so shocked at what they said they were gonna do that I didnt think of questions to ask the dr at the consultation,and now im just trying to get my head in a better place and understand whats going to happen and what its going to feel like after surgery. I have so many questions .Like how hard is it to breathe with a tube down your nose .Is it so bad you just want to yank it out? I,m almost afraid to find out how they hold your tongue down and can you swallow at all? Sorry just thoughts that are running through my mind.I searched but i couldnt really find any info on that stuff.I guess these are just more personal questions to ask someone.Thanks again

  • freetime
    freetime Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2016 #5
    hang in there

    You should be scared that is normal, the unknown can make your thoughts race.

    I hade major surgery too with graft from my leg to my neck for throat cancer.

    They removed part of my throat and I had a feeding tube intil my neck healed enough to eat agian, soft foods at first.

    A feeding tube is not going toaffect your breathing , may burn nose when put in , but thats no big deal.

    surgery is a big deal . hope you have family or good friend to talk to.

    please dont try to take on too much so soon, you need to try continue with daily tasks , be strong. Take care 

     

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