TMO

Great advice already given here. Just want to add a few comments. I think eating solids after 4 weeks is good progress. As Dizz said, we all move at our own pace. I too had the sores on the tip of my old tongue. I noticed the old tongue does all the work. As the new tongue shrinks and heals, the old tongue continues to gain control. I think that forces it to rub on the teeth and other areas in your mouth. Good advice to check with your docs.

I am 5 months since surgery and still learning to manipulate some of the more difficult items (think solid/dry/spicy). But, I have been able to eat pizza for awhile now! The sauce has to be on the blander side and cooked softer or with lots of cheese. Radiation is what made me sensative to spices/acids.

BTW, if you have not already, I suggest you talk to your oncologist about the odds of cancer coming back. In my situation (Stage IV SCC on side of my tongue, 18 nodes removed, 1 node with SCC but it was still inside the node), the odds of cancer coming back dropped from roughly 40% without radiation to 20% with radiation. I had to specifically ask for these odds. Not sure why they wouldn't talk about it up front. Maybe most people follow their recommendations without it. Radiation does suck but its a different kind of challenge than surgery. The process is slower and not as intense. In your surgery, you wake up suddenly with over a dozen tubes and sensors hanging off you and you can barely breath, eat, speak, sleep. With radiation, it's pain and difficult but drawn out over weeks/months. You can sleep at home, eat (limited stuff), speak, breath, etc.

So glad you are improving. Please keep us up to date on your progress.

Nels