I am settled in nicely at home and feeling a little better each day. I expect to begin chemo in a couple of weeks, so the feeling good part will go out the window. I will probably also have another round of radiation. Nothing firm yet. I expect to hear next steps in a couple of weeks.

The surgery required was much more extensive than the PET scan lead the team to believe. In the short time since the PET scan, many more lymph nodes became involved. The tumor had grown from my tongue into my right cheek. Fortunately, there was still no bone involvement. I was in surgery over 15 hours. The surgeons were meticulous both with removing the tumor and with the reconstruction. They were very pleased - achieving clean margins throughout are are confident they removed the entire tumor.

My wife said she had a conversation with the surgeon who did the reconstruction about eating. The surgeon said I would not be able to be able to eat dry things like white meat chicken but would probably be able to eat dark meat. This was hugely encouraging. I was picturing blender everything, so entertaining the thought of solid food with limitations was beyond exciting. I know it will be some work to get there. I understand the surgeon spent a lot of time wiring up nerves to give my tongue some mobility.

I have said just as couple of words with my family and managed to make myself understood. A long way to go with speech too, but I can feel how it will be possible.