| Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 8 Member | OP Member Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 8 | Hi, I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of my tongue in December 2015. I had a partial glossectomy (about 1/4) in January 2016. My surgeon was not happy with the margins and now I scheduled for a hemiglossectomy (with lymph node removal, tracheostomy, feeding tube and radial forearm free flap), in April 2016. I have not been told a whole lot about what exactly is going to be done or how long healing time will be or speech deficits. I hope to gain knowledge from people here who have gone through this.
51 year old non smoker Dec.2015 Diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of tongue Jan 2016 Clear PET Jan 2016 Partial glossectomy April 21,2016- hemi glossectomy with RFFF and left neck resection. -trach for 6 days -feeding tube for 8 days -home on day 9 Pathology May 2016 T2 N2B M0 2 positive lymph nodes 30 rads completed July 13/2016
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF! We will help you with info and support. Read and learn about your illness and everything that goes along with it. This will help you to become a strong advocate for yourself. We have been where you are after major life altering surgeries, we completely understand what you are going thru.
As far as your speech goes, I suggest finding a speech pathologist to start seeing. They will help you tremendously with your speech and also how to manage eating with the changes in your mouth. The earlier you begin working with someone the better end results you will have.
Best wishes with your continued recovery. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Hi, Ange
I have been through that op and for the similar reasons. It's very big surgery and the trache is highly irritating but it's also a successful procedure. The forearm flap works quite well because it is moved by the remaining tongue. Over time it comes to resemble normal oral tissue more and more. When I had a recurrence, it was not on my tongue but in my cheek. That's because I'm one of a small percentage who get new primaries.
Speech should be okay although you might have a slight change of accent. Eating will be slightly less difficult but you should have no major problems. It just takes time for everything to heal and the swelling to go down.
Best wishes.
1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol. September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision. October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT. February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 87 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 87 Likes: 2 | Hi Ange,
I had my subtotal glossectomy done at VGH in Vancouver. The surgery included removal of a substantial part of my tongue, a flap from my wrist, skin graft from the thigh (to fill the hole left from removing the flesh from the wrist) & partial neck dissection. I had the tracheostomy and the nasal feeding tube. The trach sucks big time, but you'll get through it. Check my first post out for the whole story if you want more detail.
Everyone is a little bit different because their sites are in different locations, shapes & sizes, so what you go through will be unlikely to be exactly the same as what I or anyone else went through.
In my case, I was in the hospital for about 16 days. I was able to eat without supplements from the NG tube after about two weeks. Another couple of weeks at home and I was starting to be able to eat most everything again. Six weeks after the surgery, they began radiation treatments & eventually I had to go back on the (mostly) liquid diet for awhile. Then it improved again. Didn't take me long to get back on my feet, back in a dragonboat and hiking. I even did the West Coast Trail about seven months post surgery.
My speech is somewhat affected. Problems are most noticeable in my case when I need to spell out letters (e.g. my D's sound like G's), or when I need to say words with double letters. I can eat almost everything again, although sometimes I have trouble with things like sushi - I need to bite it in half now. I have a nice scar on my wrist, but everyone says chicks dig scars. I feel pretty fortunate if those are the worst things I have to worry about now.
Dx 2014Jan29 (42 yr old otherwise fit nonsmoker) SCC tongue stage III T3N0M0 subtotal glossectomy, partial neck dissection, RFFF, trach, NG tube 2014Feb25 16 days in hospital RAD 25 zaps 2014May5-2014Jun9 Back to work, paddling & hiking shortly afterwards
| | | | Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 8 Member | OP Member Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 8 | It is reassuring to hear about other people's recoveries. To know that although it will be a tough couple or more weeks, that healing does happen and I will get through it. The unknown makes me a bit anxious, and at the same time, the wait time until surgery seems to drag on. Thanks for your stories and support!
51 year old non smoker Dec.2015 Diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of tongue Jan 2016 Clear PET Jan 2016 Partial glossectomy April 21,2016- hemi glossectomy with RFFF and left neck resection. -trach for 6 days -feeding tube for 8 days -home on day 9 Pathology May 2016 T2 N2B M0 2 positive lymph nodes 30 rads completed July 13/2016
| | | | Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 16 Member | Member Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 16 | Hello! I am newly diagnosed as well. I have surgery scheduled on 4/14/16. Partial glossectomy. I am super nervous but knowing that others have gone through what I'm going through is slightly comforting. Not that I wish this upon anyone. But it's nice to be able to talk to someone. If you need an ear, or eyes to read (lol) you can contact me! I hope all goes well and I wish you the best!
CA patient age 30 Stage 3 OC Surgery Partial glossectomy 4/14/16 Surgery on neck 1 lymph infected Pathology tests show intermediate risk Radiation starts soon Chemo suggested but not mandatory | | | | Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 8 Member | OP Member Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 8 | Thanks Ang! You too. I am a bit freaked out, but it has to be done! The alternative is not an option. It is nice to have someone to talk with who is going through the same thing at the same time and share experiences. Wishing you all the best and tons of positive thoughts on your big day!
Last edited by ange; 04-05-2016 08:44 PM.
51 year old non smoker Dec.2015 Diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of tongue Jan 2016 Clear PET Jan 2016 Partial glossectomy April 21,2016- hemi glossectomy with RFFF and left neck resection. -trach for 6 days -feeding tube for 8 days -home on day 9 Pathology May 2016 T2 N2B M0 2 positive lymph nodes 30 rads completed July 13/2016
| | | | Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 16 Member | Member Joined: Apr 2016 Posts: 16 | I agree! Let's support each other! I hope the best for yoy. After surgery I am going green. I wonder if anyone has researched hollistic remedies of alkalining your body to defeat cancer cells. There's so much research ahead of me! Let me know what you think! Surgery is in 3 days, wish me luck!
CA patient age 30 Stage 3 OC Surgery Partial glossectomy 4/14/16 Surgery on neck 1 lymph infected Pathology tests show intermediate risk Radiation starts soon Chemo suggested but not mandatory | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,916 Likes: 57 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,916 Likes: 57 | ANG0512 There is no evidence that any of these holistic remedies you read about on the internet actually work, and certainly the idea of alkalining the body.... no matter what you do your body will through its own systems, realign itself to its normal equilibriums. If you are going to research these things, the credibility of the web sites that you are visiting is paramount. There are more old wives tales and misinformation out there then you can count. Don't muck up sound nutrition to try and change something that is more often dictated by the genes your grandparents gave you than anything that you can consume. Learning good nutrition in general and with exercise incorporated will be more beneficial than some unproven idea that does not hold scientific water. I say this with all respect, and only wish you to not harm yourself chasing things that have no evidence of efficacy.
Last edited by Brian Hill; 04-13-2016 05:29 PM.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. | | | | Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 91 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 91 | I hope all goes well for both Ange's on your surgery days. The biggest remaining effect on my speech is just if I talk a lot, I feel that my speech doesn't sound as good as when I don't talk so much. The nerves on the right side of my tongue starting feeling needles and pins sort of. Other than that, Alpaca was right about the changes in accent. My heavy Brooklyn accent occasionally sounds sort of Boston. Listen, it could always be worse. It could sound New Jersey, right? Denise
Biopsy tongue 3/24/15 Diagnosis SCC tongue/floor of mouth Partial glossectomy, resection and right neck dissection done 4/22/15 T2aN0M0 05/01/2015-no further treatment indicated at this time, monthly check ups for two years
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