Base of tongue cancer removal

Hi Cissy. Welcome to our small community. Sorry can’t help re surgery I had chemo radiation snd just a biopsy. Am sure someone will pop on later. Good luck to both of you there’s other on here who have had robotic surgery and the Marsden is an excellent hospital.

best wishes Hazel x

Thank u ..he had radiotherapy and chemo last time round for the secondary they couldn't find the primary but despite all treatment it has grown husband knew something was wrong last May it was only after he kept on they gave him a pet scan in June which didn't show anything but his pain got worse they did an mri in August and there it was sneaky little bugger right at base of tongue 

LindaWT had robotic surgery on her tongue cancer. I'm sure she will be along soon with her excellent advice. In the meantime best of luck and thank heavens for modern technology which enables you to keep in touch.

Pesky cancer robotic surgery has yielded excellent results   Everything x for you. 
Hazel x

Hi Cissy

I had robotic surgery for base of tongue cancer in June 2018.  I had a neck dissection at the same time which your husband has had already so slightly different.

My consultant advised me beforehand that my throat would be extremely painful afterwards and she was not.wrong!  Normally patients have a syringe driver to self administer for pain relief but unfortunately I had a problem coming round from the anaesthetic so I wasnt allowed to have morphine which didnt help.  I also had a nasogastric tube for a few days while eating was impossible.  

Once the NG tube had been removed swallowing was incredibly difficult due to the pain.  All.pain relief was in liquid form too.  I was given some Difflam spray to use prior to eating to help.anaesthetise my throat but I really ate very little to tell the truth. 

I had been given tongue strengthening exercises and swallow exercises which I did beforehand and afterwards.

My consultant advised me that the pain would ease very gradually and that after 4 weeks I would suddenly be able to swallow again properly - she was right almost to the day.

Hope all goes well for your husband tomorrow.  I'm more than happy to answer any more questions if you have them.

1. Linda x

Hi thank u for replying he had a rig tube done 3 weeks ago in readiness for this op which has been postponed so we know he won't beable to eat for a while ..won't hold u to yr 4 weeks but fingers crossed ..I hope u r now cancer free and living life to the full...covid permitting ...we had a new grandchild born yesterday so alot to live for x

Hi Cissy Congratulations on new grandchild 

Hazel x

Good luck to your husband and I hope todays operation is successful. 

I've yet to find out how mine will be treated now the primary has been found after a year of looking - very similar to your husband.  So I will be very interested in how he gets on.  I think Linda is probably right with the 4 week recovery as I found the tonsillectomy and neck dissection advice on recovery times from the hospital spot on.

Unfortunately op was cancelled  hubby was ready with gown on bloods done when surgeon came to tell him they had to close a ward because of ...yey u guessed it f.... covid ....they had to close a ward so had no bed for him hubby said surgeon was gutted I had just arrived home after driving 4 hour round trip so back to waiting ...will keep u posted ...r u under the Marsden Peter?  

Oh Cissy that’s so wrong really hope the op can be rescheduled as soon as possible. Yes f... covid it’s really messing up the n h s i do feel for everyone going through cancer treatment at the moment. 
keep in touch and everything x forca swift recall 

Hazel x