So sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Proud to announce it's all good news though! Guess who is eating normal food, speaking well, and swallowing normally despite the grim outlook we were first given by doctors and speech pathologists??? Miracles still happen and my sister is walking, talking, eating proof! Of course her speech isn't perfect and she sometimes has to repeat herself, but she talks soooo much better than we thought she would. It was less than a month and half after her surgery and she was eating pizza! So far so good with radiation therapy. Today is day 15 of 30 and the side effects are minimal- occasional sore throat and thicker saliva at night time. She is happy that radiation is taking care of the hair that was growing on her flap smile I wish you all the best and thank you for being there for me when I needed it.


Sister, 18yr old, diagnosed with oral tongue cancer 10/08/13
Total Glossectomy and neck dissection 11/18/13 (saved the back left portion of her tongue base only)
Forearm flap reconstruction
Trache and NG feeding tube after surgery (both removed now)
Tumor 6.7 cm
All lymph nodes tested came back negative for cancer
Radiation- 30 treatments (ending 2/18/14)
3/20/14 Recurrence- tumors in both lungs; likely metastasis