Check up with Dr. Holmes

Today we went to Birmingham for Dad's first check up with Dr. Holmes since the radiation and chemo treatments have been completed. It went very well and Dr. Holmes seemed pleased with all that is going on. He thought the flap looked wonderful and is healing as it should. Dad gave him details about how he was feeling and he told us again that this healing would be a very long process. He actually looked shocked that Dad works and does as much as he does. Dr. Holmes told Dad that it generally takes 24 months after any type of radiation to heal and feel completely back to normal. I know from the look on Dad's face that it seemed like FOREVER, but I can see that being true and I am sure it will pass before we know it. He also told Dad that he thought the first PET scan was done a little premature and that he would have expected it to show some suspicious activity in the tumor area because the treatments were so recent. If something suspicious had shown up, he would have ignored it having been so early after the treatments. However, as you know, the PET scan even done a little early showed "all clear" and Dr. Holmes declared it "a good base line" and he was happy with that. Dad still has a lot of numbness and dryness in and around his mouth. All this is to be expected and will heal and get better with time. Now, for the big part. Reconstruction cannot take place until at lease one year after treatments are completed and a couple of PET scans have been done to monitor for recurrence. Our next one will be in 4 to 6 months. Please continue to pray that the cancer is gone and the healing continues. I KNOW it will be! When Dad actually heard that reconstruction wouldn't be possible until a year from now, you could see the disappointment. I would not like that either. However, the good news is that he wants to see Dad back in 8 weeks to monitor his weight and mucous healing. ( I am thinking that he was talking about the dry mouth issue!) If he is consistently gaining weight and the mouth has continued to improve Dr. Holmes would like to set him up with a dental specialist to make him a temporary prosthesis type mouth piece which would give him some teeth!!! That would be so great. This is the reason he tried to save the one tooth in the back of the mouth. He has warned Dad that he may eventually loose that tooth as well, but for now it is the "hook" he will need to hold a temporary. Although the temporary would not provide him any "function", it would give him something to fill the space until reconstruction. Yeah! Please pray with us that all of that works out and goes smoothly.

Until then, Dad is to keep EATING and trying to gain weight...and keep healing. His appointment is July 16th to see about the temporary. Thank you all again for your constant support, prayers and love.