Original Cancer Surgery Jan 2024
In late 2023, Kenny discovered a lump along his jawline. Sensing something was wrong, he quickly scheduled an appointment with an oral surgeon for a biopsy. Just three days later, he received the diagnosis: cancer in his jaw. The surgeon recommended a specialized procedure called a Fibula Flap surgery, which involves removing the cancerous portion of the jaw and replacing it with a segment of the patient’s fibula bone. Fortunately, there was a pioneering surgeon for this procedure in Fort Worth, but with the first meeting came more difficult news: Kenny would lose all the teeth on that side of his jaw.
To regain function later, dental implants needed to be placed during the surgery, as post-surgical radiation would make it impossible to add implants afterward. Unfortunately, insurance considered the implants "cosmetic" and would not cover the $20,000 cost. Within a month, however, our community rallied around us, raising the funds needed in an outpouring of support and generosity. On January 18th, Kenny underwent the surgery. It was a scheduled ten hour surgery that turned into fourteen hours. The fibula flap was successful, and surgeons also removed 20 lymph nodes from the right side of his neck. The recovery was difficult, with Kenny enduring weeks in a leg boot and a large wound on his leg covered by a skin graft. I became well-versed in wound care—truly well-versed.
The pathology results brought a mix of relief and caution: the bone margins were clear of cancer, and only one lymph node contained cancerous cells, which had not spread. However, a month later, swelling in his neck and face revealed an infection that had turned into an abscess. Surgery uncovered a "communication" between the flap area in his mouth and his neck, causing drainage issues. Once corrected, healing could continue.
Next came the radiation phase of Kenny’s treatment. For six weeks, he underwent daily sessions, with a custom-fitted mask used to secure his face to the table during treatment. The process was grueling and exhausting, but Kenny persevered. By the end, we believed we had left cancer behind us.
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