Elizabeth, I'm glad also your sister found this site. I also had recurring tongue cancer. Removal of left lateral tongue SCC in early Nov 03 with little impact to speech or eating. Pathology showed clear margins with no node involvement. No radiation or chemo was recommended. Around Christmas 03, I noticed a small irritation this time at base of tongue. Due to holidays, didn't get a diagnosis until Jan 12, 2004. It was SCC again! By the time surgery was performed in early Feb 04, it had grown so extensively as to involve the pharynx. Surgery 12 hours with subtotal glossectomomy and flap recontruction. Today I have no working tongue, speech is hardly understandable even with a prosthesis, and I can only take liquids and pastes through an oral syringe after a year of swallow therapy. Still have PEG tube. I'm still clean but will always live with the after effects of the second glossectomy.

Why am I telling you all this. To advise you to see an oncologist ASAP. I'm glad you have not had the agressive type SCC I had but I strongly urge you to get treatment options now to minimize further recurrence. Radiation and chemo are tough but I believe I might still have at least a workable tongue if I had sought the advice of an oncologist in 2003 after surgery.

Jim