I,m new to the forum and am having trouble figuring out where to put messages so I'll just throw it out. How long is recovery time , on average, for a partial tongue dissection?

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Let me first welcome you to OCF! Your question can not be easily answered over the internet by non-medical professionals. Every patient is slightly different and will respond to medications and procedures in their own unique way. Even if the tumor is very small, the surgeon will need to take a wide area around it to make certain they get every cell. Thats called getting clean or clear margins. Other factors include your overall health, how aggressive the cancer (if it is cancer?) is behaving, how quickly you heal to name a few. Too many variables, even age plays a role in how quickly a patient will bounce back. It could be anywhere from a few days of being uncomfortable thru a few weeks maybe even months for more involved cases. Most surgeons will not be able to thoroughly explain every single thing about a patients surgery prior to going in and seeing the whole situation while actually preforming the surgery. A piece of tissue from another area could be moved to your tongue and reconstructed (called a free flap). This would be even more involved and could be a very long surgery 8-10 hours or more is not unheard of around here. A neck dissection may also be needed.

Please take some time to read and educate yourself so you can be a strong advocate for yourself. If you can eat most foods at this time, do it. Eat all your favorites and spicy foods now. Dont concern yourself with gaining weight, most lose weight with this type of cancer. Your ability to eat could be compromised for hopefully only a very short time but you never know how fast someone can bounce back from this kind of surgery and if other treatments like radiation would be necessary then there would likely be more long term eating challenges.

If you havent already done so seek out a second or even third opinion. Surgeons always will recommend surgery, radiation oncologists say radiation is the way to go, etc. Just remember... when its gone its gone forever and cant be put back to ever be exactly the same as how it had been before the surgery.

Hang in there! Its always a scary time when waiting for surgery. Most patients get nervous and begin to worry about every single thing, especially the unknown and things beyond their control. Stay busy and work on learning about your illness. If you are having problems dealing with this or feeling overly anxious (completely normal for many OC patients), consult a therapist or doctor to help you manage your anxiety. We will be here to help you as much as you need.


Good luck!!!

Welcome nmd! You are in great company here! Everyone supports one another and shares, cheering each other on to success. Prayers and Best Wishes for successful treatment and a speedy recovery!
Steve

HI there... recovery time varies depending on you and how quickly you heal. I am assuming you have a tumor in or on your tongue. I had the same surgery. Depending on where you live and what your hospitals protocol is you could be in the hospital from 10 -14 days. I live in Toronto - our protocol is to keep you in until all drains/trache/and IV's, and staples (to your wrist/leg) are removed - and you are able to eat small amounts of soft food. I was in for 10 days. I have a high pain tolerance and heal rather quickly. Because of this I was on a plane 17 days post surgery and laying on a beach in Mexico. Some people take longer but usually full physical recovery is up to 6 weeks.

If they are doing a neck dissection (THEY SHOULD BE) then you may need physio for your shoulder/arm/neck on the affected side.

I was able to eat softish sold foods and wash it down with fluids. Breads were hard, (they're dry and bulky) and I don't eat meat but haven't in years, so I am not sure but I have heard it can be challenging.

Overall despite how daunting it is.. the surgery is not that bad!!!

I do hope you are being treated at a ccc. This is not a cancer to be messed with. You need an ENT who deals specifically with Oral cancer ALL THE TIME. They know the ins and outs and tend not to down grade the seriousness of this DX - which some less experienced ENTs may.

Hugs and welcome.

How do you go about getting a second opinion in Vancouver BC?

Find out who the top oncologist / ENT is at the top Vancouver cancer center. Give the name to our family dr. Ask for a referral, and make sure they send it to him /her via fax.

hugs

I think you'll need to get a referral from a family doctor or a clinic.

I ended up getting my treatment at a couple of places - surgery & the initial hospital recovery was at Vancouver General Hospital, then the rest of the process has gone througat the BC Cancer Agency, right next to VGH. Initially I had gone into my nearby medical clinic to get them to look at some ulceration on my tongue, they did a biopsy & it was deemed aggressive enough that they sent me in to see the right folks at VGH.

I've heard that Surrey Memorial is pretty decent as well - the ENT that referred me, splits his time between an office in Surrey and the clinic downtown that I went to.

Hi!

I just had a partial glossecetomy and rt tonsilectomy on 6/2. Spent one night in the hospital and then recovered at home. Liquid diet the first 2 weeks. Followed up with my doctor on the 15th at which he stated I was 60 - 70% healed! I have been seeing a fabulous doctor and team who only deal with oral cancers at a top rated cancer center. I did not have to have a neck dissection due to we found it early and the tumor had not developed to a depth that would allow concern. Tumor team decision!

Every day I feel better and am actually heading to the Abacos in the Bahamas tomorrow! I would say for me personally the turn around was about 2 weeks, but still not 100%...

Everyone is different so recoveries will vary. I do wish you the best and a speedy recovery.