The Cancer came back!, so I'm back at Sunnybrook Hospital

Back at Sunnybrook,
"Elevator up?"

I did stop my (over) 30 year smoking habit, April 6th., 2009, the same day as my original surgery. The painful & awkward recovery provided the motivation, combined with the latest smoking cessation drug from Pfizer, Champix. The pathology reports done after the first surgery did not show any signs of cancer left. It was all clear so radiation treatments were not necessary or advised. Which, after what I had been through, was good news for me.

No Turning back Now!

I returned to Sunnybrook to have a partial denture made for my lower jaw, the dentist here specializes in cancer patients, (and OHIP will cover a third of the cost). I was a "Patient" in the true sense of the word, It wasn't until the end of September that the denture was ready. I then had some on going fitting problems with more tooth extractions to be done, my dentist in Aurora was handling this, UNTIL he noticed some ackward healing and refered me back to the original surgeon. That's when I found out the bad news; it's back and it's aggressive.

¡Smoking Causes Cancer!

The plan now, as it has been executed so far. The doctors cut out the offending tissue, taking a wide margin around the tumor. This was done Monday. I went under for about 4 hrs. the surgeon also took a few more teeth off the bottom, and a chunk of the jaw bone. I had a replacement titanium bridge put in the lower jaw. So far so good, the surgical team claims it was a big success. All I know is it does not feel as foreign as it did the last time. (Don't Smoke / causes cancer!!).

It's easy to get frustrated.

The Resident Doctors,
Sunnybrook "Teaching Hospital"

Sunnybrook is a "Teaching Hospital" so the patient (at least I find) has to look out for their own needs. It's easy to be unintentionally forgotten, for example I had a I.V. Pole that would not roll very well, yet everyone wanted me to walk more (get out of bed). ALL had said they would get me a new pole, never happened, until I decided to go hunt one down myself! There was one not far from my room in a corner.

Jenn R.N., Day Nurse

All is to be expected when going through cancer treatment, and I am lucky there are great surgeons and caring nurses in our hospitals. However there is a shortage of professionals compared to patients, so when I have to write and rewrite the same answers to the same questions to different caregivers, because my mouth and throat are so swollen I can't speak. It's easy to get frustrated.

Gums after first surgery

Hole "healed" into Gum

The first operation was mammoth compared to this time, It was 8 months and 1 day ago from the original surgery. At that time the lymph nodes in my neck were removed along with the skin graft from my arm. So no wonder it was a long healing process, by the time I had bottom partial plate of teeth made, (and got them to fit properly), the cancer came back! So now I am almost back at the start again.

Oral Cancer Surgery / cont.

First surgery took 10 hrs., many teeth and some jaw bone!

After many consultations and all the pre-operation work my cancer surgery was scheduled for April 6th. 2009. The procedure would require a patch of skin to be grafted from my arm to cover the floor of my mouth after the tumor was cut away. A vein would have to be transplanted to the floor of my mouth.

The breathing tube and swelling
complicated things

When I awoke after the 10 hr. surgery, I panicked because of an tracheal tube (breathing tube) I wasn't prepared for, and I thought I was drowning! I began flayling around with my arms, tearing at the life support tubes.

I got so bad that the nurses wanted to have me restrained, to protect myself! But it didn't get to that, I managed to rip loose the vein the Doctors were trying to re-attach. I had to be sedated and go back into surgery for another 2 hrs. while the damage was repaired.

I recovered quickly, but endured great discomfort. The feeding tube was sewn into my nose and caused a painful laceration, it had a wire running through it that acted like a ballast, putting stress on the sore.

The most frustrating aspect of the first 4 days was that I could not speak because of the swelling in my throat and the breathing tube. I had to quickly write out answers (on a clipboard), to impatient Doctors and nurses who asked questions as if I was hard of hearing!

Oral Cancer Surgery

I have an aggressive cancer of the mouth, or had! This is the second surgery to remove a tumor that developed on the floor of my mouth. April 6th. of this year (2009).

Fancy photo effect, Showing off teeth that finally fit!

My dentist (Dr. Jordan Talsky) first discovered the tumor during a routine cleaning sometime in 2005. It was cut out and biopsied, then followed up with a "Cat-Scan" and a ear, nose & throat exploratory.
The condition seemed to be in remission at that time, with only a small scar where the original pock mark was. I decided to let the dentist monitor it after that. I was strongly advised to quit smoking, but I did not. (could not?).

Four years went by with dental appointments approximately 3 months apart, then it returned while my gum's deteriorated from gingivitis. It was time to get back into Canada's "Socialized Medical System".

Dec. 6th. (the night before surgery),
Showing off teeth that finally fit!

Dr. K. Ford Moore is an oral surgeon located in Newmarket, ON. he was the first step to confirm the cancer had returned. He was able to refer me to a family doctor which I did not have! The infamous Doctor shortage in Ontario. At least this "Specialist" who does not get paid by OHIP could give me a lead to a "Doctors pool", where Dr. Norma Carter could then refer me to a Specialist who does get paid by OHIP, so I could have another biopsy done and send it to Sunnybrook Hospital. So I would be seen by an expert at SunnyBrook in order to get operated on.