First, let me say I am so grateful for this site. My dad was diagnosed with oral cancer ( base of tongue) in March 2011 at a stage 3. Primary tumor and in two lymph nodes on the left side. The cancer has reocured on the base of his tongue and in two lymph nodes although they were considered "encapsulated" whatever that means. He just had a surgery to remove the tumor and all the lymph nodes on the left side. The surgery was quite extensive and he can no longer swallow. They used a pectoral muscle to reconstruct the tongue and a place in his jaw where the tissue was too irradiated to hold a patch and heal properly. We are so terrified that he did this in vain and he is really depressed. He has a trach and a feeding tube (stomach). He failed the swallowing test he took Friday and they did not detect a swallowing or cough reflex. he is understandably devastated at this news and wants the trach out ASAP. I guess I want to ask other survivors and care givers if this scenario ever happened to them and if they or their loved one were able to swallow again and eat. I want to give him some hope because he feels like giving up and it is tearing my heart out. Thank-you so much for any and all advice you guys may have. I love all the useful information on this site and everyone seems so kind:)