Today My husband's PET scan shows cancer at base of tongue with mets to two lymph nodes. He had tonsil cancer, squamous cell, with mets to lymph nodes in 2001. Had neck dissection and rads. Cancer in tongue (ssc again) in 2013, no mets. 25% of tongue removed. This time recuperation from surgery will include learning how to speak and learning how to swallow. Dr. will make flap for throat from hand skin. Says will take a lot of determination to learn to swallow. Vocal cords are not involved.

My question to anyone who has experienced this. How long did it take you to recuperate, learn how to speak and swallow again? Any suggestions about blended diets would be helpful.

Thank you, Sheryl

Wife/caregiver to Charles
ENT diagosed SCC Rt Tonsil Stage IV, MET 6 lymph nodes in neck 1/2001
Tonsillectomy, RND and six weeks RADS 2/2001
ENT diagnosis from CT scan, SCC in Rt tongue 2/13
25% of tongue removed 2/13 (clear margins)
SCC BOT with mets to 2 level 2 nodes and Lt. Delphian node 8/2014
Surgical biopsy shows cancer in larynx 9/2014
Laryngectomy, resection & rebuilt tongue w/ pectoral muscle, selective neck dissection 11/2014
Recurrences '16 HPV Neg No EGFR Mutations Detected