Big op

I am waiting to find out about my tongue so can't offer any personal positive information, but there will lots of positive stories that will come along.  I suspect the road to recovery will be tough, but doable; especially with supportive friends and family.

Wishing her all the best with the operation and I hope she joins our "club", that nobody really wants to join, so she can find support over the next few months.

Hi Eggie and welcome to our little community. 
I don’t have personal experience of this particular cancer but I have tagged a friend who has and I’m hoping she will pop on to lend a hand. 
I hope everything goes well. 
It is a big op but my friend has done really well.

Best wishes 

Meanwhile if you search “tongue cancer” at the top of the page there are quite a few recent threads running 

That was me at the beginning of October. Lost probably just over half of my tongue, flap from my left calf and neck dissection too.

I turned my phone off at 10 past 9 and my husband got a call at 9.30 in the evening. As he said, he DIDN’T want a call much earlier as that could only have been bad.

The length of operation scared me as I’m not the fittest, but all went well and I was up and walking the next day. COVID meant I had no visitors for a fortnight, but in some ways that put less pressure on me from the point of view of communication and appearance (how vain does that sound?!?).

Pain relief was pretty much always available and after about 6-7 weeks, I needed none at all! 

Be aware that if Chemo/Radiotherapy is needed afterwards, then that’s another trial in itself.

I’m happy to answer anything you’d like to know.

Oh - if you’re wondering, while I’m a bit lop-sided still and lispy (and self-conscious)  I’m perfectly comprehensible and can hold a phone conversation. 

My ability to chew & swallow was fairly good before the Radiotherapy  -  but am now waiting (impatiently) for the side effects to subside once more.

Hi 

welcome to our small community sorry your friend is going through treatment. Maybe when they are out of hospital they could join for some support as well ? Panch is doing really well so take heart from her. I am 30 month post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes and am now living my life to the Max 

hope you find positivity in our comments   Please pop back and update us on their progress 

Hazel x

Thank you. She’s having neck dissection and radiotherapy too

such a long day

Hi Eggie we will be here for her and you when you’re ready it’s a long day but better than the alternative. It’s hard but doable she will need people round her. Where in U.K. are you both ? 
Hazel x

She’s in London I’m in Wales. We went to school together but in 2006 we moved to Cardiff. Our friendship has survived the move

Hi!

I had a subtotal glossectomy last year in June (over 2/3 of my tongue), full dental extraction, reconstruction with radial forearm & right neck dissection. It’s a tough one, but I’m sure your friend will be fine, she’s in the best hands!
It’s a gruelling recovery & there may well be hiccups in the future, but just be there & be patient.

I have some speech changes, but on the whole, it’s quite clear, I can eat well, just waiting for some teeth lol.

Sending love xx