Hi there, I've visited this site quite often and asked questions previously, but I will fill you in on what is happening.
In short, my husband had a left rad. neck dissection March 2005 and the primary was located on the base of his tongue. He went through 33 sessions of radiation, but 15 months later, the cancer returned at the base of his tongue, 3-4cm. So then he had a tongue resection, where they took a large part of his tongue and did a flap reconstruction from his forearm together with a main artery. They took part of his airway, and the nerve in his tongue was damaged. He's been going to speech therapy and that is coming along quite nicely. He has a peg tube, and manages to swallow "mushy" food.
The question I would like you to answer is:
Does the swallowing improve over time, he seems to have no control over his swallowing muscles and constantly gags and chokes. He's a real trier and doesn't give up easily, but it's wearing him down. Can someone please shed some light on this subject for me. I keep encouraging him, saying he's doing well, but now I'm starting to wonder too.
Also, he is now undergoing chemo as the doc suspected the cancer was travelling along the nerve of his tongue. We were told last week that it was a baseloid squamous cell carcinoma which is very aggressive. Has any of you had this, it's the more aggressive form of the "ordinary" squamous cell carcinoma.
Any info would be truly appreciated. Thankyou

In the US there are swallowing therapists; do they exist in the Land of Oz (sometimes referred to as Under There <grinz>)?

Swallowing is something one needs to keep doing to keep, even if one has all the original equipment.

Hi Susie. Most distressing to hear what your husband is going through. Yes I had exactly the same cancer and the same rad and tongue disection but I had it all done at once. I can't take chemo therapy as it will kill me see my other posting. I never had the stomach tube,I fought against it, I got the nazal tube for the first few days and the doctors and nurses made me practice swallowing. Swallowing nothing but just going through the motions and eventualy I could drink a protein ,high calorie shake after about five days. Still now, if I try to eat solids or pureed food I still gag and choke and it's almost a year since my opperation and seven months since radiation finished. I don't know about your husband but I suffer from dry mouth and have to use a mouthwash and mouth gel to supplement my lack of saliva. It's not perfect and I still only drink my food but its better than the tube.
I had my ct scan the other month and so far so good, if the surgeons got the nerve and the chemo does the rest for your husband chances are good.
Does the swallowing get easier? not for me but I'm only a year into this but my dentist at the cancer clinic told me I'd never go fine dining with my friends again. Patience and percerveerance is all that you can wish for. Yes, it is tireing and demorilizing but you sound like you have the strength to support your husband I don't know what I would do without my Dorothy. You wives are the strength and backbone us men need to continue to survive but don't neglect yourself. I see how tired my wife gets and like a true trooper will not quit, you sound the same. Take a moment for yourself once in awhile.Go have a ladies day.
Wish you all the luck in the world. DanT

Well Dan, what a lovely encouraging reply you wrote. Well we can all only hope and pray that after all my husband has gone through, hopefully Dear God, he is cancer free. What a horrible disease this is. Well, I will tell him to keep up his excercises and encourage him all I can, and well, if we never get to dine out again, so be it, at least I've still got him, he's a keeper I reckon.
As for you Dan, and your wife Dorothy, I wish you both the very best, and you deserve a prayer, so I'll say a special one tonight. Keep your spirits up, I guess it's better than the alternative hey! Best of luck, I hope you continue to recover and I hope you get some sort of "normal" swallowing back, and that you are rid of your cancer.
I'm actually going out with the ladies in a couple of weeks time, thanks Dan, first time I would have been out for a meal in almost two years. I'm not complaining though, at least I can do that, whereas you and my husband cant.
Take care Dan.
Susie

Hi Pete, haha you made me laugh, I think you mean "Down Under"....not "Under There", that's funny!
Yes we do have swallowing therapists, and we are going fortnightly, it has improved slightly, but I guess we are all a little impatient when it comes to our health.
I wish you the very best Pete for your future.
Susie

Hi susie. What a beutifull reply. Thanks. Dorothy will apreciate it also. Your husband and I may never go out fine dining anymore but guess what? I still go out and sit at the table and suck down some broth or something, even the occaisional oyster if they look yummy. It's the company and the friendship I go for and of course a quiet romantic moment with Dorothy. I may have had cancer and I may not be able to chew and swallow whole foods but like you and your husband I AM A SURVIVOR. Take care, Bless you both and good luck. DanT

Susie, I know it's Down Under; Under There is the joke, and for the record, I have been Down Under There in Sydney in '68 on R&R from South Vietnam. The beer and the steaks were excellent as I recall, and the citizens were a hoot, but I think they'd all been imbibing too much of the beer because none of them would drive on the right side of the road!

The truly strange part was that with all those sheep, woolen clothing was expensive (I was told it was because the wool was sent to the UK to be processed and made into clothing).

Holdens at Blue Peters -- Very strange place, indeed!