#15374 06-02-2004 03:31 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 Gold Member (100+ posts) | Gold Member (100+ posts) Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 | Lowanne,
Jack is right. The flap is sewed down to the bottom of his mouth. If he has any tongue left at all then he'll be able to talk. It won't be that clear but you'll be able to understand him. The flap is really to keep him from aspirating, but will aid him in speech and possibly swallowing later down the road. I drink liquids very well, but eating solid food is another story for me.
I'm glad he can still taste some. The little things are what can pull you through some days.
Hang in there! Lynn
Stage 3, N0, M0 oral tongue cancer survivor, 85-90% of tongue removed, neck disection, left tonsil removed, chemo/radiation treatments, surgery 11/03, raditation ended 1/04, lung mets discovered 4/04,
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#15375 06-02-2004 10:24 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 Gold Member (100+ posts) | Gold Member (100+ posts) Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 | Hi Lowanne, I had my tongue removed in July 2003. I had the feeding tube and trach for 8 1/2 months and had them both removed on April 1, 2004. Although I'm not eating solids yet (hopefully will take up that challenge some day), I am able to swallow well and can take in enough liquid supplements (Boost Plus for example) to maintain my weight. I also had a prosthesis made for my mouth which lowers the roof of my mouth nd am about to finish my speech therapy (after about 3 months or visiting once a week). I have floored my therapist in that I am able to make sounds (words and letters) that according to the textbooks I should not be able to make without a tongue. So there is hope! It's a LOT of work but well worth it. I'm back at work (I work in an office with lots of people) and I haven't come across anybody who can't understand me. Sometimes the word I want to use is hard to pronounce so I substitute it for a word similar in meaning which is easier to say. As I mentioned, I'm not eating solids but if all I'll ever be able to take in is liquid nutrition, so be it - it could be worse! Tell your husband to hang in there! Hugs and good wishes, Nancy
Stage IV oral cancer (tongue), T3N2, total glossectomy with right and left modified neck dissection 7/03, rad /chemo ended 11/03
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#15376 06-03-2004 01:43 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | God Bless You, Nancy, you are doing awesome!!!!
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10 ---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#15377 06-06-2004 03:59 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 64 | Jack is encouraged by the comments from Lynn and Nancyt. He knows it will be a long haul, but with this cancer he will feel fortunate to be around for the long haul. We are still feeling positive and optimistic. Had another problem with being tongueless the other night. It blood sugar was low for the first time with him not being able to swallow glucose tablets. We had some crushed and ready to put into water. They didn't want to dissolve. I added some plain sugar and got it through the feeding tube. His endocrinologist said to try the glucose that comes in a tube next time. I hope there won't be another episode. He hates the glucogun...nauseating. Lowanne | | |
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