In March of 2024, dentists performing a routine X-Ray discovered a mass in my mother’s lower jaw. After numerous appointments, tests, and bisposies, it was determined that she had a cancerous tumor (clear cell odontogenic carcinoma of the left mandible) that would require a very intensive surgery to remove. In April of 2024 she underwent this 11 hour procedure, which involved a left segmental mandibulectomy, left fibula free flap, neck dissection, tracheostomy, and several skin grafts. After a brief recovery period from this surgery, she started six weeks of radiation on her head and neck. This was a very difficult area for radiation, as the side effects caused a lot of swelling and sores and made it very difficult to eat.
A recent CT scan has shown that she is cancer free in her head and neck, and we are awaiting further scans to confirm it’s nowhere else. With the tumor being so close to her lymph nodes and lymphatic system, there was a very high likelihood that it could have spread through there, but we caught it in enough time that it was able to be contained to the tumor and taken care of. Despite how intense the process was, we are so lucky that we caught it when we did and that it was able to be dealt with. This specific type of cancer in this area is very rare, but her team of doctors knew just what to do and executed her plan perfectly.
Throughout this entire process, my mother remained determined no matter how harrowing the experience became. Her continued strength throughout an ordeal that doctors have told her tops the list in terms of painful treatments to go through is nothing short of inspiring. I want to raise money with Dana Farber for cancer research and run this marathon for her, because the strength it will take to run an entire marathon will still not even come close to the strength it took for her to get through this.
One hundred percent of every dollar raised by the DFMC team supports the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. These funds are fueling some of today's most promising basic cancer research.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute provides expert, compassionate, and equitable care to children, adults, and their families, while advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases. They train new generations of clinicians and scientists, disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries around the world, and reduce the impact of cancer, while at all times maintaining a focus on those communities who have been historically marginalized.
Thank you for your support! Together, we're headed toward the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.
