Michelle,

I didn't have a graft, but I did have plenty of swelling and soreness for several weeks while my tongue healed. (I still remember the day after the surgery when they moved me from the ICU to a private room, and the nurse's aide showed up a few minutes later with a cafeteria tray containing a well-done steak -- even in my heavily medicated state, I had to laugh out loud!) When I couldn't handle solid food, the list of things that seemed easier to swallow included: broth (warm, not hot), ice cream, applesauce, pudding, instant breakfast, smoothies from the blender, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and many different flavors of baby food.

I'm not sure I can shed a great deal of light on the specifics of the pathology report -- her doctor should explain it to her and be able to put it into the context of her overall treatment plan.

Cathy


Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989