Hello, yes this is a hard situation to adjust too, but I know that you will get there. You still have the radiotherapy and chemo to do so be patient. The good news is your lymph nodes were Encapsulated and hadn't burst through. The radiation should destroy any of the cancer cells left as there weren't clean margins. No distant metastases is also fabulous news. Your goal now is to get through this next phase of treatment. Swallowing is not easy during the radiotherapy treatment. I do hope that you are under the care of a Speech language therapist. The SLT will be your best friend and advocate for swallowing. Are you swallowing anything at the moment? If you can, keep swallowing everyday as this is important for keeping the swallowing muscles active.
It certainly is very possible to swallow after a total Glossectomy. It takes time and perseverance. Make that Speechie your friend.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!