Hi New here - sister support

Hi and welcome from me.  It is tough treatment on both the patient and those around the patient. This cancer is generally very curable, with treatment success in the area of 90%.  There are lots of us on here many years down the road from diagnosis  living a good quality life.  Have a look at my profile. I am coming up to 6 years since I was diagnosed, but I do have a very unusual cancer journey, which probably won't help your sister right now if you relay the detail to her.  Just let her know you've talked to long term survivors. . 

Hi and welcome

It’s good that you are offering so much support. I echo Peter’s sentiments. Tell your sister that you’ve been in touch with long term survivors here on the forum. 
pT4a N2b Is advanced local disease but cure rates are very high and your sister has the added advantage that surgery has removed the bulk of the disease. 
I couldn’t have surgery but six weeks of RT fixed me and I’m now chasing seven years. 
Where was her cancer and reconstruction? 

Thank you - it’s amazing to hear from you all that have beat this horrible disease. It was on her tongue and had about 40% of her tongue reconstructed from her arm.

Thank you so much for your reply, and it’s amazing hearing you beat this awful disease and I will relay to her how so many do survive x

Sister05062871ed said:

It was on her tongue and had about 40% of her tongue reconstructed from her arm.

I have a friend here who had similar surgery.  Panch I’ll let her know you are here. She is five years clear and doing really well. 
Meanwhile have a look at this website 

https://www.youngtonguesglobal.com/

They have a very active social media page peopled by patients just like your sister. 

Hi welcome to the group. Good on you for being a good supportive sister. I think lots of people worry about the treatment not working and then worry about if it's going to come back, it's human nature to have these worries, however these worries do fade with time. Be assured the treatment does give very high cure rates. There are many of us on here who are still here to tell the tale. I'm nearly 8 years post treatment now, and still here alive and kicking. Stick with us and ask any questions you may have.

Ray.

Wow amazing - thank you x

Hi there.

Yes, I had surgery T3N0M0 in October 2020 and so have just passed the 5 year mark.

It’s a hell of a surgery and sadly cut, burn and poison are still the most effective ways to get rid of OSCC ( tho there are huge advances being made in the field of Immunotherapy too).

The Radio will be rubbish (I didn’t have chemo) but it wasn’t *quite* as awful as I feared. However, the recovery can be lengthy; she’s going to need help. I can send you my “hints and tips for Radiotherapy” if you want to message me directly. 

Deep breath; your job is to keep her keeping on. She WILL emerge the other side xx

Thank you when I figure out how to PM you I will if that’s ok - she is on week for this week of radio and her 4 chemo. 
she had her left side of tongue reconstructed from her arm and they took lymph nodes from left side. I think the mental struggle is just as hard as the physical affects she has really struggled and is just so scared.

You need to “add friendship” ️ 

If she joins “Y*ung T**gues” on F*** B**k there are plenty of people there who have been through similar. I’m a bit old now!

I “lost” half my tongue, flap from my calf and neck dissection on one side.

it IS difficult to accept that you are “forever changed”, but her scars WILL fade, her speech will continue to improve and eventually you become grateful for extra life rather than worried about the immediate effects.

Having said that, having half your tongue cut out IS traumatic and the majority of people who have been through this eventually dare to acknowledge that they have some sort of PTSD.