 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | The problem with a total glossectomy is that the muscles that push the front of the tongue around are removed, unlike a partial glossectomy where the muscles can still push the faux tongue around to form sounds and swallow.
A lot will depend on how much scarring you have from the surgeries. In my case, with two surgeries and the radiation, my throat is very restricted and my speech is nowhere near clear (Still have my trach tube).
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
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