Vickie,

I think the effects depend on how much of the tongue is taken and what type of reconstructive work is done. I can tell you my story though.

I had a partial glossectomy done in February of this year. My tumor was about 2 cm and was towards the front of my tongue on the side. I had an extra cm taken out around the tumor and had clean margins (yeah!). My surgeon was a miracle worker. People who see me wouldn't be able to tell that I had the surgery--I'd have to show them all of my tongue for them to know.

I was not able to talk for 5 or 6 days due to the fact that I had a trach. Once it was removed, I could talk, but not well. I worked with a speech pathologist who evaluated where my weaknesses were and gave me exercises. I met with her a few times for a progress check and a tune up on my practice routine. The process was very helpful and I would strongly recommend it. My speech is nearly perfect now 2 months later.

I was on a feeding tube through my nose for the time when I was in the hospital. I was able to eat the last two (of 8) days. I was restricted to a soft diet. I could eat things such as yogurt, pudding, cottage cheese, chicken soup, mashed potatoes. The good thing was that the hospital I stayed at would bring you whatever you wanted when you wanted it. Eating was really foreign at first and took some work, but I was determined to get the feeding tube out before I left the hospital, so I persevered to prove to them that I could get the nutrition I needed without the tube. At home, I then slowly added other foods once I felt like I had mastered the others. 2 months out I can eat whatever I want.

I only had pain medication for 2 or 3 days (that part is kind of hazy). Later on, I wasn't on any pain medication at all. Again, I don