 "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 381 | Hi Chandra,
I had half my tongue removed and reconstructed with my forearm.
As the new half has no muscle, the old half has to train it to work together.
My speech is 90% back to normal, and is improving every day.
I asked the surgeon about swelling, and the effects of radiation on the flap size, but other than that it is pretty individual. I got told to eat and talk as much as possible. I also sing for an hour every day as it forces some sounds quicker, and I have found my speech is getting better faster.
Good luck!
Tina
Diag: Aug. 13/12
T3N0M0
50% + glossectomy and bilateral radical neck dissection, removal of nodes zones I - V
Surgery October 11/12
Chemo/rad on hold due to clear margins and nodes
Sept 21/13 clear CT with anomaly thought to be the artery, being watched closely.
Dec 16/13 - anomaly confirmed artery, all clear
nickname: "get 'r done"
Plans: kick cancer's butt
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