When was the last time you were able to swallow anything? When were you able to nourish your body with something other than liquid Ensure or Boost-via stomach tube? When were you able to move your head without excessive pressure in your neck? Incapable to open your mouth more than a half-inch or speak without spitting matter and with a raspy voice? I cannot swallow even a drop of water without choking. My energy level is flat-out gone. I find it difficult to walk around the block.

It has been over two years since Dr. Sinha of the USC Medical Center in Los Angeles removed a malignancy from the base of my tongue. I