I had a partial glossectomy & lymph node removal in December. I really have no problems with my speech, but I was wondering if the chemo & radiation treatments (which I start tomorrow) will affect my speech any?

I would guess that any change in your speech will be only temporary due to sores in your mouth caused by the radiation. At the end of my rad/chemo, just when I was ready to celebrate, I lost my voice, which happens to some people, and was reduced to a very soft whisper for about two weeks. There are many posts here on how to survive the rigors of radiation, and you can ask questions as you go along. Here is one tip. Before I lost my sense of taste all together, the chemo gave me an annoying metallic taste in my mouth which I found was relieved by sucking on honey lemon cough drops. Radiation is no picnic, but you can get through it. I am convinced that while I had great surgeons, it was the rad that saved my life and I would do it again in a minute. Keep that thought in mind and it may help you, as it did me. And let us know how you are faring. There are lots of us here to help you.

I had a near total glossectomy in November and radiation didn't affect my speech just my swallowing. Just curious, why so long between surgery and radiation/chemo?

Lynn

After my surgery, everything (all margins) came back negative. I felt fine for almost 3 months, then noticed a small lump on my jaw, which was biopsied & came back positive. That's when the ENT recommended radiation & chemo to treat the recurrence. After my first day, I feel OK so far. I am wearing a chemo pump to infuse my 5FU over the next 4 days and getting Cisplatin daily. Guess in hind site, I should have done radiation right after surgery....

We always joked that we knew what the FU stood for but only because of the nasty reactions I had. I hope your experience is much better than mind. Best wishes for a tolerable treatment and fast recovery!

Ed

My mom lost her voice after the third week of radiation and then it came back about two weeks after she finished radiation. Her speech actually sounds better now than it did before she got the radiation.

You can't let the what you should have dones get you down. My moms experience was very similar. Her ENT's theory is save radiation for a recurrance I guess because going through radiation is very tough. Now eight weeks after radiation she is feeling more and more like her old self everyday.

Danielle

For what it's worth, my doctor told me that in the last five years he has changed his view from neck dissection, radiation/chemo always to radiation/chemo first, neck dissection as a last resort for recurrence. He mentioned to me that he would give me everything he could the first round and go for the cure. He then told me if it comes back there is nothing to do but a neck dissection and would most likely only remove the discomfort.

Ed

My oncologist also holds similar belief as Ed's doctor. I had full dose of radiation/chemo to ensure a complete cure. If there is a recurrence, surgery is the only resort. When I further asked him if surgery can really do the job if cancer recurs in my case, he just stopped me by saying don't worry about things that may not happen. The team of doctors will deal with it and take care of me. So I learn not to think much about my illness these days.

Karen.

I hope your treatment is going well. I hope that the 5FU doesn't get you down. I had a reoccurance 5 months after my initial cancer was discovered. The first cancer was so small they passed on radiation too. I just keep looking forward instead of backward.

God Bless!
Lynn

Hello Texas Teacher,

I had surgery followed by IMRT radiation. I had no side effects from the radiation. I was lucky in that regard. I had no Chemo. What type of radiation are you having?

My speech was messed up from my surgery. I can speak but It's diffucult to get out certin letters. D's, and B's are the worst for me. Wouldn't you know my name is Dan Bogan. In sales I do better in person than on the phone.

I wish you the best of luck as you continue your treatment. Remember one thing "It will get better"

Dan

Dan,

I have trouble with several letters including Ls and Rs, My name is Lynn Furlich. My daughters are Sally and Rachel. God has the most wicked sense of humor. It's taken me awhile to laugh.

Lynn

Hey Lynn, Reading your last post made me smile, I sometimes have trouble with Rs and Ss, don't you know my husband's name is Steve and my son is Steve Jr, daughter is Rachel......gotta laugh about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!Take Care, Carol

Hi Lynn,

The only real trouble I have had with speech is due to dry mouth. Keep that water bottle close to you at all times. My wife says I seem to have a much more pronounced Chicago or midwestern accent. Doos,dees,doos. Thankfully I am from Chicago so I can get away with it.

Good luck, it gets easier I promise.

Robert

You guys are too funny...what we all have in common sometimes is too much. Dan has trouble with t's and d's and our names are Dan and Debbie, kids are Tony and Todd!
Texas Teacher - good luck...I think everyone's trouble with speech is minor. Dan is in sales and drama director at our church, in local plays, etc...so he really needs his voice and it's come back pretty good. Someone said for a while it sounds like a "Marge Simpson"...that is so true!!
God Bless,
Debbie

Oh my gawd - I do sound like Marge Simpson!!!!

Cathy- I am imagining you doing a Marge HMMMM...

I have trouble with s, and spelling b and d outloud can confuse whomever is listening to me. I have mentioned before that I frequently have to refer folks to the phone number 676-7777 YIKES.

My partial glossectomy consisted of loss of 25% of the front of my tongue on the right, other "righties" out there with similar difficulty?

Sincerely,
Lisa

I had a nack dissection and radiation. Radiation ended 15 months ago. I have trouble with a few letters and like the other posts my name is difficult for me to pronounce. I was able to speak better before radiation, surgery did not cause me graet problems. However, I have switched ENT's to Memorial Sloan Kettering and they favor Rad/Chemo over Surgery/RAD. Thick saliva is my mahjor problem. I always feel as though my tongur is overrun with saliva. My radiologist says it will probably remain this way. He recommends a cough surpressent for possible relief.