Well, surgery went differently than planned. The good news was the tumor was much less invasive than thought, less than 1 cm deep! So they made the decision to NOT do the selective neck dissection, due to the smaller tumor. It does make me nervous being that the doctors said a selective neck would reduce my chance of cancer coming back.

I am now just recovering. Eating LOTS of soup! Nothing quite tastes the same, I am surprised at the random pain i have. Jaw hurts (i notice I clench me teeth a lot), teeth hurt, tongue doesn't hurt as much as it tingles all the time. And of course I talk really funny, I have an especially hard time saying sounds with d, s, t, th. I have to think really hard before saying any sounds. Thanks for all the support! Can't wait to hear the doc say next week that I am cancer free.

Lori, age 30 (HPV-, non-drinker, non-smoker, non-tobacoo user)
Dx 3/18/13 - T1N0M0 SCC L.Tongue
Tx 4/4/13 - Partial glossectomy (no rad/no chemo).
8/8/13 - Thyroid FNA - benign nodule
12/20/13 - Tongue Biopsy - Mild hyperkeratotic dysplasia
12/26/13 - Lymph FNA - benign (dx Cervical lymphadenopathy)
3/17/14 - Tongue Biopsy - normal tissue
5/5/14 - Tongue Biopsy - (awaiting results)