Hi Neha,

I hope that your dad is finding that his problems are improving every day. This really is the very worst time for him.At this stage I didn't want to speak - it was far too painful.

I am 18 months post surgery, and had 45% of my tongue removed plus a left neck dissection and radiotherapy. My biggest worry was about how it would all affect my speech.

However, I am told that I sound almost the same as I did before the surgery. People who don't know that I have had cancer don't notice anything wrong with my speech.

I too find that my speech worsens if my mouth is dry, so always carry a small bottle of water with me. I did see a speech therapist a few times, but only to improve some sounds that I had difficulty with. Talking is the best exercise. The tongue is just like any other muscle - you have to use it to keep it in shape and doing what it's supposed to.

I found the verbal exercises provided by the speech therapist rather tedious and they made my tongue ache, so instead I tried singing! laugh
It also cheers you up! I chose songs (often by Abba) which involved a lot of different sounds. After only 4 weeks of this I was discharged from the speech therapist!

As for the likelihood of a recurrence - everyone is different. Your dad can discuss this with his surgeon and should be told his prognosis. It all depends on the stage of the cancer, what the healthy margins were around the tumor when it was removed, and other health/age issues. Of course it is all statistics and doesn't really mean anything to the individual.

Evereyone who has cancer is told that it might come back. BUT, if you have optimum treatment (which your dad has) then it is less likely to return. If your dad eats well (in time) and looks after his health, then he will be doing all that he can to aid his recovery. That is all that any of us can do...........apart from enjoy life and make the most of every day that we have.

Encourage your dad to think positive.It really does make a difference. There is no point in being anything else.

Please keep us updated about his progress.

Debbie

Debbie T, from Southampton, UK. Cancer of tongue - stage 2(diagnosed 04/03). 45% tongue removed and reconstructed from left forearm, plus radical neck dissection (06/03). All followed by 33 sessions of radiotherapy (ended 09/03). Diagnosed at 43. Non -smoker, social drinker, don't know why!