New member here. I am being treated for Stage 4 Tongue Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma)with metastasis in 1 nearby lymph node. I was first diagnosed around my 43 birthday. Not a very happy birthday.

A tumor had grown on the right side of my tongue, which went unnoticed because of where it was located. It wasn't until I could feel a bump back there that I became concerned. Had my dentist check it out because she had found a white lesion under my tongue a few years prior which was diagnosed by an ENT as being Oral Lichen Planus. I now suspect the cancer developed from that. My dentist referred me to an ENT who said the bump appeared malignant.

I had a biopsy on my tongue back in early November, which confirmed the diagnosis of SCC. My ENT referred me to the University of Michigan because they specialize in head & neck cancers. CT scans did not reveal any additional cancer. But to be safe my surgeon wanted to remove nearby lymph nodes.

My surgery took place in mid-December taking 6 hours long. A third of my tongue was removed and then reconstructed with donor muscle tissue from my forearm. A skin graft covered the donor site. I had a neck dissection for the removal of 10 nearby lymph nodes (1 tested positive for cancer). Because of some tongue swelling I had a tracheostomy tube for breathing. Had a feeding tube in my nose for nutrition as well. Spent 5 or 6 days in the hospital before being discharged on Christmas Eve day. By then the tracheostomy tube came out & I began talking again, albeit with some difficulty.

My recovery continued in a rehab nursing home near the University hospital. Was finally able to get much needed sleep. I continued to improve and was able to go home less than 3 weeks later when the feeding tube came out.

I spent about 2 weeks at home fattening up for phase 2 of my treatment: radiation & chemotherapy. Which I'm undergoing now, here in Ann Arbor. I'm scheduled for 30 radiation sessions & 3 rounds of chemo. I've had 8 radiation sessions & 1 round of chemo so far, so I'm almost a third of the way done. 😝

The chemo is rather unpleasant, causing hiccups, nausea, and vomiting. Medication helps control those symptoms. The radiation is starting to cause some tightness in the jaw, but I've been doing exercises for that given by my speech therapist. Also dealing with fatigue.

Everything has happened so fast that the emotions have not really hit me yet. Almost like being swept up in a current and I'm just along for the ride. Where this ride takes me however, I do not know.