Anita, you are right that the tongue post radiation is much different. My tongue has an area on the side of it that is firm but not hard, and stays a little redder in color then the rest of my tongue. My doctor says it's damage from the radiation.
Hoping for the best.
Minnie

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.