That was how I felt also. Since I hadn't used my tube in 6 months and had a good report in 12/08, I scheduled surgery to have my tube removed. Surgery was scheduled in late-February. I went in for another check-up in mid-February and had some suspicious growth again. Biopsy showed cancer had come back for the third time. So the removal was cancelled and I did really need mine again. Even more so now after the glossectomy because I can only swallow slightly. I have managed to get small syringes of chicken broth down and a few other thin liquids without coughing and or choking too bad. I have only had aspiration pneumonia once. It has been 8 months since my surgery.

Richard S


8/06 Dx; T3N1 SCC rt lat tongue & nodes. 9/06 part gloss, neck dissection. 9/06-12/06 35XRT; Cisplatin 3x. 2/08 & 5/08 Part gloss; Brachy 2x5 Tx. 7/08-10/08 HBO 60 Tx. 3/08 Dx SCC. Surgery 4/7/09 glossectomy & rt mandible replacement from fibula. 1/31/12 4th reoccur surgery and reconstruct cheek.