OK
Ron had a partial glossectomy they called it. His flap/tongue is sewn to the bottom of his gums. He has a difficult time with certain letters when he talks. I have heard speak and met folks at the walk that had OC, I did not ask about anybodys surgery but I noticed everybody I heard talking or spoke to had a tongue that moved freely. Does anybody else here have theirs sewn to the bottom of your gums? Ron had all his teeth pulled out also so he had no teeth and was told he can't get dentures either because of the surgery. Was his more than a partial? What is considered partial? Was it because his cancer was far more advanced they had to remove alot of his tongue? I never realized this until the walk. Or is it because you all type so well I don't realize it?

Ive lost a third of my tongue and mine is able to move freely. Though Ive heard of others here who had it sewn down. I think it has to do with the location of he cancer and maybe the size. I wish I could be of more help! How much was removed?

Suez

The complications Ron is suffering from are the reason that surgery is the last resort for base of tongue cancer. I was fine after my first bout of only rad and chemo. However after the cancer came back, I had no choice but surgery . I lost over half my tongue (most of it in the base which doesn't show). My flap is sewn into the bottom of my gum on the lower left. My tongue has very limited motion.
I found speech therapy helped me tremendously with relearning how to say "certain letters". The exercises I was given were boring and childish but worth doing (repeating lists of words, over and over) Until I finished a full year of therapy and sessions, phone conversations were nigh impossible but now I can even handle complaints to my cable service hotline. I still have to speak very very slowly .
Teeth are important in speech so that is probably a factor also. My prosthodontist made a palate drop so my tongue could touch it (I can not touch the roof of my mouth nor even poke my tongue out of my mouth) which helped a lot in speech.
In the future, TORS (trans oral robotic surgery) will radically reduce such damage. My limited tongue mobility also contributes to my inability to swallow.
Losing your tongue to save your life evokes the line from Adele's Someone like you :
[quote]Regrets and mistakes
They are memories made.
Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?
[/quote]
keep the faith
Charm

Yep he can't stick his tounge out or touch the roof of his mouth. He can swallow great thank God. It is sewn down in the front if I'm not mistaken, I remember the doctor stating he will be able to talk, it's like if you put your tounge to the bottom of your teeth and try to talk. And that is how he sounds. He can talk really good, everybody understands him even on the phone. And yes he too speaks slowly sometimes when words he knows he has problems with come up and he will even spell words which helps but not really cuz the letter he can't say he is trying to spell it. OK I think he had more than half his tounge removed. I know I sound stupid not knowing all the facts for sure but that was along time ago and I just can't remember exactly. But he can swallow. I'm am really going to have to go to the docs with him soon, when I can take off from work.

The first surgery they took about half of my tongue - left side- and did a flap - using my left thigh (new technique instead of using arm tissue). I too have my tonge tied down somewhere near the gum on the left side. My second surgery they could not do a flap as they could not tether the tongue on both sides so they removed about 3/8ths of what was left and just did a skin graft - right side this time.

I call people who stick their tongues out, lick envelopes and whistle 'SHOW OFFS". All of those things are in my past. I was able to save my bottom front 8 teeth and through my dental plan I was able to get them crowned - one or two a year through my dental plan. Having these means I can wear an upper denture (although I have no back teeth) but they are good "company teeth". I do not wear them at home, nor do I wear them when I eat. My speech now would be similar to someone who is deaf. This has produced some extremely funny moments. Because I have the upper denture they were able to add a piece to my denture to allow what is left of my tongue to touch my upper palate and make certain sounds - previously impossible.

Sounds to me your husband should be able to get an upper denture? I've never looked into it but I doubt I can get a lower denture - but given technology these days - who knows - maybe a partial is possible. As your CancerCare who they work with for dental issues. Ours is linked to the University of Manitoba and it was one of the professors there that created my speech aide for my denture. You never know what help is out there until you ask!

Good luck. Its really amazing what you can get used to!


Donna

Suez

It's not a reflection on intelligence not to know specific percentages since its not usually the focus of the doctor's post op interaction. Hey, if I had not requested my own copy of the complete surgery report and the pathology report, I wouldn't know the details either because I would not have know what to ask. Also, My understanding is that it's normal for the surgeon not to actually talk to the pathologist, but just read the report
I'm glad to hear Ron can swallow.

Donna
Yeah, no more "showing off" for me. Good thing I was a lousy whistler before the cancer, plus I never liked to lick stamps. I do miss being able to stick my tongue out though.
Charm

Donna, He did go to the dentist right accross from his ENT, he told him no none at all...at least that's what Ron told me, I need to go with him more often to doc apts, but my job prevents me seeing I am really the sole provider and I have a house I have to pay mortgage on. And funny cuz Ron says our dog is a show off when he gives her a Milkbone treat her tongue goes crazy licking a million times a minute when you stick it in front of her face and he tells her to quit showing off! Ya he does sound like he is deaf too when he talks. There are days I can hardly understand him and other days I can perfectly.