| | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 112 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 112 | Hi guys, today it�s been 56 days of my tongue surgery. I�m eating normally but not speaking normally (and I�ve been invited to minister a class :/). I can be understood, but some letters sucks. Well, but that�s not the reason from my posting. I�d like to know in how many time your tongues (I had primary closure) healed. I still have white stuff, 10 days ago I went to the doctor and he said my tongue had "fibrosis" and I should be patient for healing. But I have white stuff and today a blister showed up in a place that�s healing! Please help, I�m on vacations and freaking out with this issues  How longe you took to full healing?
December, 2011 - T1N0M0 SSC Oral Tongue sugery (Dec 07, 2011). Partial glossectomy, primary closure. Selective Neck dissection, all 57 nodes free. 29 at diagnosis, no risk factors at all. No smoking, drinking and HPV negative. Can you explain? I can't.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | Hey, there, Brazilgirl,
I am 2 1/2 years out of treatment, and I'm still healing. Sometimes my speech isn't always as clear as I would like, but for the most part, it's OK. I had radiatiion and chemo, though (I had lymph node involvement). The radiation caused more problems than the surgery, but hey, I'm still here!
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | White on your tongue could be thrush or scar tissue. Healing can take many months. My doc said it can take up to a full year for swelling to fully subside and you to be completely healed. Having a well balance, high protein diet will help speed your healing.
If your speech isnt what it was before you can seek out a speech therapist to help you. They can work wonders! People are their own worst critics. Maybe your speech really is pretty good but you are more aware now and look for any imperfections. We have a couple teachers on here who have undergone similar surgeries and they are doing very well with their teaching.
Best wishes with your class.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 112 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 112 | Hi Cristine, I already have speech therapist. But you know, I�m that kind of person that is not patient. Ok, I know, i should be. But see, I�m 29 y.o, independent, run my own stuff... I have reasons to be impatient.
I frea everytime I open my mouth and see white stuff. I�m using my iPhone light and see "psicologic white stuff" everywhere! And I�ll only visit the doctor in 10 days...
December, 2011 - T1N0M0 SSC Oral Tongue sugery (Dec 07, 2011). Partial glossectomy, primary closure. Selective Neck dissection, all 57 nodes free. 29 at diagnosis, no risk factors at all. No smoking, drinking and HPV negative. Can you explain? I can't.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Everyone heals at their own pace. I'm a year post surgery and having had radiation and chemo my tongue still has its moments - its sensitive to temperature and swells up or freezes up with icecream, but for the most part post op I was doing very well eating most foods and speaking better. Then they radiated me and it was like starting at 0 again... (actually in the negatives) give yourself more time and just continue to work at it. n, and d are my worst letters! patience!!! good luck!
Last edited by Cheryld; 02-01-2012 06:40 AM.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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