My Cancer Story – Gordon
(I am still here which is a massive positive!)
In 1988 I became aware of a pain in my lower left jawbone and had difficulty opening my mouth to eat. My initial diagnosis was I had a blocked Salivary gland. Further scans eventually revealed that the bone was not smooth.
In April 1989 I underwent surgery to incise my left jawbone leaving a piece creating a hinge with the upper jaw. Everything seemed normal for several months.
In August 1989 a severe pain returned. I was referred to a maxillo facial specialist at Rodney Street, Liverpool who arranged an operation to remove a section of lower jaw at Walton Hospital and replace it with a titanium implant and bone from my left arm.
The operation day In January 1990 was a most challenging time of my life. This entailed a 15 hour procedure followed by a time in Intensive Care. I remained in Walton Hospital for a week prior to being transferred to Murrayfield Hospital on the Wirral. A subsequent infection in the operation site required the removal of the implant. During this procedure my facial nerve was severed which affected my mouth and left eye. No feeling on left side of lips creating some drinking difficulty. During this time I had no radiotherapy or Chemo.
I have lived with this now for 32 years. I was very lucky to have had the unstinting support of my wife Pat throughout this whole time She was absolutely wonderful in every way.
My thoughts and reflection of my experience.
At first I was grateful that my life had been saved and even derived something positive from the Experience!
The period in 1990 coincided with redundancies at the branch where I was Branch Manager and I was more than happy to accept the package and pension. I believed that to have continued at the bank with my facial disfigurement would have been difficult. Also that with the passing of time it would increase and would become more aware of it and shy when meeting people. Much less confident in social situations which I found an ordeal at times.
So although initially I regarded my ops in the most, essentially successful, I now think of them as more as a negative, which sounds rather ungrateful!
I do regret the infection, implant removal and facial nerve damage. which I now regard as having adversely affected my life, although I do appreciate having that life at all. My wife and family were spared my loss and I have been able to support them over the years and enjoy our life together. I am aware that many others are in far worse situations than I am so I do count my blessings. I do though continue to have thoughts of what might have been had I not contracted the cancer at 52, 34 years ago.
Group Meeting reflections
I attend most group meetings and give my contribution however minimal. However, I find it something of a comfort to be around people who have undergone or are undergoing broadly similar experiences to mine. To me its interesting to hear how those affected are coping and how modern treatments and surgery compare with my surgery. I’m not to sure whether learning of my experiences and hearing my recollections actually helps others, but hope that nobody will be put off or worried by the outcome, which sadly can be both visible and audible. Well we are still here which must be one massive positive to offset any negatives!