 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | I didn't have a glossectomy but during the radical neck, the ENT damaged the nerve that runs the right half of my tongue. The result is a tendency to slur if I am not careful and with low saliva things get sticky and the words become hard to pronounce. This is tiring after alot of talking and sometimes results in a sore tongue from friction. I keep a small dropper bottle in my pocket filled with Biotene which helps.
My tongue movement is better now than 2 years ago so you might expect things to get better over time.
They say that wisdom is when you listen more than you speak so this perhaps is a blessing too. :p
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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