The loss of the life you had...boy, I can sure identify with that! I get so tired of my friends and family having to accomodate me when we go out to eat, even though I tell them not to. I do agree that the mouth is one of the worst, if not the worst, places to have cancer. Nobody really understands that except the people here. It sounds as if you ended up having a pretty good day, though. Kids can really help us keep things in perspective. Good luck to you!

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.