tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3415937412580189741.post-18583550553789861252008-04-17T10:35:00.000-04:002008-04-17T10:35:00.000-04:002008-04-17T10:35:00.000-04:00i just came upon your blog and though i have not read much of it i wish to send you good thoughts. the reason i'm commenting on this particular post is that when i saw your mask it totally reminded me of what i went through in 2003 and into Jan. of 2004. I had mucoepidermoid cancer of the minor salivary glands on the hard and soft palate. a strange place to have it; and i wasn't a smoker...in fact they said smoking was not a cause of that type of head and neck cancer. i went through 3 surgeries, and up into the nasal passage to get it. then they did a forearm freeflap transplant to cover up the hole in the roof of my mouth...and i could get rid of the prosthesis i wore for a while. the 35 radiation sessions weren't too bad, really...i did get quite tired, and eventually it did burn the heck out of my mouth. i lost 35 lbs. in no time flat. i couldn't eat, and could barely drink...i had about 1 ensure a day, that's all i could handle. BUT the good news is, that 4 years post surgery i am still totally cancer free...even though i'm told this can recur as far out as 20 years later. i just totally avoid thinking of that! now, i told you my story...and ONLY to give you hope. you WILL make it, and your mouth will heal and you'll learn to adjust. i wish you well! janJan Doblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844013803699228989noreply@blogger.com