Cancer survivor reveals how jaw rebuilt from her leg

SAM EMANUEL
09 December 2009 15:00

Ally Lovelace, who had surgery to rebuild her jaw from part of her leg after cancer, pictured with her boyfriend Paul.

A cancer survivor who is recovering from an operation to rebuild her dead jaw bone from part of her leg has told how she feels she is starting a new life.

Ally Lovelace, 43, had previously undergone a 13-hour operation to rebuilt part of her tongue from skin and blood vessels from her arm after being diagnosed with cancer of the tongue.

In July, she went back into hospital to have her jaw operated on, as the bone cells had died because of the radiotherapy on her tongue.

The mother-of-one from Gertrude Road, Norwich, is now having physiotherapy to help her walk again, and is almost fully recovered.

She said: “It has made so much difference to my life; it has just relieved so much pain. I used to have to take morphine six times a day, but when I got home I stopped, and only take pain killers now. The doctors are astonished at my progress.

“The operation hasn't made much difference to my speech, luckily. But because they had to put a skin graft around my gums from skin on my leg, my mouth has been growing hairs in it. I don't want to have more surgery though, because I feel like I'm doing so well now, so I just pluck them out.

“I feel like life really has begun for me now, I am almost pain free. I have a lovely man who I have been seeing for seven months, and a lovely son, and I am so happy.”

Ally in hospital following the operation

After her operation, she ate soft food for two weeks and was given exercises to do, including opening and shutting her mouth to stop the scarring thickening.

Mrs Lovelace will have to go back to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital next year for one final operation, when surgeons will remove the metal plate put into her jaw to hold it together. After that, she may be able to have false teeth inserted.

She added: “My surgeons Richard James and Mr Clibbon did a wonderful job and Tim Bradnum my Macmillan nurse has been fantastic. I got £400 from Take a Break magazine for telling them about what happened to me, and I have donated the money to the Macmillan nurses at the hospital because they are so supportive.”

Has your life been transformed by an unusual operation? Call Evening News reporter Sam Emanuel on 01603 772438 or email sam.emanuel@archant.co.uk.

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