First, let me say I am so grateful for this site. My dad was diagnosed with oral cancer ( base of tongue) in March 2011 at a stage 3. Primary tumor and in two lymph nodes on the left side. The cancer has reocured on the base of his tongue and in two lymph nodes although they were considered "encapsulated" whatever that means. He just had a surgery to remove the tumor and all the lymph nodes on the left side. The surgery was quite extensive and he can no longer swallow. They used a pectoral muscle to reconstruct the tongue and a place in his jaw where the tissue was too irradiated to hold a patch and heal properly. We are so terrified that he did this in vain and he is really depressed. He has a trach and a feeding tube (stomach). He failed the swallowing test he took Friday and they did not detect a swallowing or cough reflex. he is understandably devastated at this news and wants the trach out ASAP. I guess I want to ask other survivors and care givers if this scenario ever happened to them and if they or their loved one were able to swallow again and eat. I want to give him some hope because he feels like giving up and it is tearing my heart out. Thank-you so much for any and all advice you guys may have. I love all the useful information on this site and everyone seems so kind:)

Welcome to OCF! Im sure you will find this site to be very helpful and also a place your father can use for encouragement. First, when did your father have this major surgery? That will make a huge difference in any advice you are given. If it was fairly recent (which I suspect) he would still be recovering and all kinds of progress will still be possible. My situation is different as I did not have any cancer in my tongue like your father did. Ive had a trach and feeding tube after having my jaw removed and the recovery can take a full year. After extensive surgeries it seems to take forever for the patient to recover. Im sure he is quite impatient to get back to normal. Unfortunately, it is a possibility that he may not be able to eat properly again. I hope that doesnt happen and he will be able to relearn how to manage eating again. One of our active members can not ever eat even a bite of food but he is still able to lead a good productive life.

I hope your father will look at the positives, it will help him to handle things better. I know how difficult it can be trying to pick up the pieces after a life changing surgery. I became disfigured from my surgery and this wont ever change but I am alive which is what really counts. Your father is a very lucky man. I hope he will begin to look at the big picture and see he has the support of his great family that loves him and most importantly is that he has made it thru this.

Best wishes to your dad with his recovery!!!

Thank-you so much Christine for your kind and informative reply. His last surgery was on 5-10-12 so it was fairly recent. They reccommended speech therapy to retrain the muscles. He is working on regaining his strength and general adaptability. Your story is so inspirational Christine and you have given me a glimmer of hope to pass on to my dad. He is a bit reluctant to join a support group but this is such a supportive group that I know he will be welcomed. I will continue to encourage him and share similair stories of recovery I learn from people on this site. I love it here!