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#190158 07-02-2015 05:00 PM
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Neicy Offline OP
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I had my surgery just about 2 months and 1 week ago. It has been going good, no pain anymore. Just a question for those of you with similiar surgeries. Last week my tongue was feeling really good, sort of able to move it around more. Now it again feels all "needles and pins." This has happened before. It feels a bit more tightly tethered also. Then it will go away again. I am not all worried about it, just wondering if anyone else had this happen. Thanks. Denise


Biopsy tongue 3/24/15
Diagnosis SCC tongue/floor of mouth
Partial glossectomy, resection and right neck dissection done
4/22/15
T2aN0M0
05/01/2015-no further treatment indicated at this time,
monthly check ups for two years
Neicy #190163 07-03-2015 02:23 PM
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"OCF Down Under, Kiwi"
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Hi, Denise. Yes, I have also noticed variations in how my tongue and other operated-on structures feel each day. Have you been advised to exercise your tongue?

A year after my last surgery I find that the tissues in my mouth expand and contract all the time. Sometimes my partial metal denture is tight, sometimes it is loose. Sometimes my numb lip is without sensation and sometimes it tingles and itches.

Could you ask your doctor or SLT about tongue flexibility exercises?


1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
Neicy #190184 07-06-2015 07:36 PM
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I had under the roof of the tongue 9 hour surgery. Part of my tongue is still numb and the rest of it burns and itches. The Drs. say it's normal. I try not to look in my mouth because I can conjure up all kinds of horrid scenarios. Much like my past breast cancer. I visualize a door and lock it. I open it when I have to see the Doctor. Otherwise cancer wins and takes over my life and I still want to live it!.


I am a 65 year old reitired woman. I have been married to a great man for 42 years. I had a right breast masectomy 15 years ago.





squamous cell carcinoma under my tongue was diagnosed earlier this month. I had surgery 2/3/15. 22 lymph nodes out of my neck came back negative for metasis. The Drs. say I do not need chemo or radiation. I'm off the feeding tube and now on a liquid/soft food diet. I see the surgeon again next week. I am grateful and optimistic.
Neicy #190203 07-07-2015 07:36 PM
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My surgery was pretty minor, but it did result in some nerve damage to that side of my tongue. Tomorrow marks one year and I still have the numbness. My ENT did tell me that the fact that I have some feeling there means it might come back, but nerves take up to two years to repair themselves.

Anyway, I notice a huge difference day to day. Sometimes it is way less noticeable than others. It seems like it is most noticeable when I have not gotten enough sleep.


Stage 1 SCC on tongue 3mm (7/1/14)
Biopsy had clean margins
Successful Surgery to remove more tissue and confirm wider margins (7/8/14)
Hoping I'm one of the lucky ones and this is just a small blip in my life, and just makes for a story of "how I spent my summer vacation" down the road.
Non Smoker, Social Drinker (pre DX, but no more!)
Neicy #190211 07-08-2015 07:31 AM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 91
Neicy Offline OP
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When your ENT said it might come back did he mean the cancer or did he mean the nerve damage would get better? Yikes. I thought feeling in the area was a good thing.


Biopsy tongue 3/24/15
Diagnosis SCC tongue/floor of mouth
Partial glossectomy, resection and right neck dissection done
4/22/15
T2aN0M0
05/01/2015-no further treatment indicated at this time,
monthly check ups for two years
Neicy #190215 07-08-2015 10:39 AM
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Posts: 18
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Posts: 18
The Feeling!!!!! Sorry to not be clear on that!


Stage 1 SCC on tongue 3mm (7/1/14)
Biopsy had clean margins
Successful Surgery to remove more tissue and confirm wider margins (7/8/14)
Hoping I'm one of the lucky ones and this is just a small blip in my life, and just makes for a story of "how I spent my summer vacation" down the road.
Non Smoker, Social Drinker (pre DX, but no more!)
Neicy #190218 07-08-2015 05:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 91
Neicy Offline OP
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Ok, thanks for clarifying. Madelaine...yes, I try not to spend my day worrying about what may or may not happen! I put away my pen light as I was looking in my mouth more times than I care to admit some days. I don't even know what I am looking at anyway. I go every month for checkups so I am trying to just let that be it for now. Unless I feel something growing or whatever. I am trying to enjoy myself and not worry!!


Biopsy tongue 3/24/15
Diagnosis SCC tongue/floor of mouth
Partial glossectomy, resection and right neck dissection done
4/22/15
T2aN0M0
05/01/2015-no further treatment indicated at this time,
monthly check ups for two years
Neicy #190260 07-13-2015 08:59 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,406
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Well, compared to those of you who had tongue surgery my own was nothing to get excited about. However even just the neck dissection was enough to numbify the left half of my tongue. Guess they nicked a nerve.

At the time my neurologist told me that if feeling were to return it would do so within the first month, and after that not to expect any. He was right. I'm 6 years out and have long since accepted the permanent numbness.

Hope your situation improves. The tingling seems to me a good sign of that!


David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18

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