Dianne,

I had a free flap done on May 19 and was speaking clearly within a week and drinking by the time I went home 10 days after surgery. From what I can tell, part of what made the difference for me was the surgeon was able to preserve the tip of my tongue so I had very little trouble learning how to use it again. I've been told by many people that they can't tell I've even had surgery.


Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018