The Swallows Australian Edition Magazine

“I cannot express how
lonely I would have
been in my struggle to
face my deepest fear of
my mortality without the
support of my fellow
“Neckies”
The Neckies
- Tony Ng
In August 2010, the diagnosis of oral cancer in my
lower left jaw (SCC of left mandible) came as a
complete shock to me. It was picked up by the
dental specialist who was attending to the extraction
of my troublesome wisdom tooth. Scans established
that the T4 cancer had infiltrated the bone structure
of the jaw and all the lymph nodes down the left side
of my neck. It was difficult to understand and accept
the enormity of this life threatening discovery.
After being assessed by the medical professionals at
the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic at
the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, urgent
surgery was scheduled for the removal of the cancer.
A fibular flap was harvested from my left leg and
reconfigured to replace the dissected jaw. A month
after the surgery, I embarked on six weeks of
radiation treatment to remove any minute traces of
the cancer. To ensure that the radiation beams are
targeted accurately into the designated zones, I had
to wear a specially fitted plastic mask which
immobilised my head during each radiation
treatment. It was a painful experience made
bearable through a pain management program and
prescription of opioids.
Upon completion of the treatment, I experienced
drug withdrawal symptoms and panic attacks and
was treated by the psychologist/psychiatrist for
depression and anxiety. Later I also underwent four
weeks of hyperbaric treatment for
osteoradionecrosis (the wound in the radiated area
of the jaw was not healing).
All I wished for during all these arduous treatments
and countless appointments with various medical
and allied health practitioners was the end of the
journey and a return to work and normal living.
The difficult journey was made lighter through my
chance discovery of the Head and Neck Support
Group in Brisbane. It was refreshing and reassuring
to meet with the friendly group and to listen to the
stories of people who have undergone a similar
experience to me (some worse) and have come
through the other side. I cannot express how lonely I
would have been in my struggle to face my deepest
fear of my mortality without the support of my fellow
“Neckies”, as we call ourselves. So, thanks Marty
and everyone at the Support Group.
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