Brendan,
Yes, there are a number of us who have experienced something like what you have. Tracy has given you a good account of what you might expect about surgery.

It would not be easy to speculate on your outlook and recovery until you know more about it: is the cancer aggressive (maybe not since you've had it that long, but who knows for sure), do you have lymph nodes involved (scans will help there), when they remove it do they get wide, clear margins. You could have a great outlook, especially if your treatment is appropriate (aggressive enough for your cancer). It is hard waiting, I know.

Speech: you will likely do fine. It is amazing how we heal and compensate.

But number 1 is to find out exactly how extensive (and they can't know all of that now)and get it treated. If you have to go with radiation besides the surgery, then do it. Hope this helps!
Anne


SCC tongue 9/2010, excised w/clear margins:8 X 4 mm, 1 mm deep
Neck Met, 10/2010, 1 cm lymph node; 12/21/'10: Neck Diss 30 nodes, 29 clear, micro ECE node, part tongue gloss, no residual scc
IMRT & 6 cisplatin 1/20/11-2/28/11 at MDA
GIST tumor sarcoma, removed 9/2011, no chemo needed
Clear on both counts as of Fall, 2021