Hello everyone. I'm 33 years old and was diagnosed with oral cancer of the tongue 2 months ago. After scans it became apparent that the tumour had spread across the midline of my tongue, meaning that to remove it with clear margins they would have to remove both halves. So in august I had surgery to remove all of the tongue from my mouth. They constructed a flap with muscle and skin from my thigh and I have to undergo radio and chemo therapy stating in October.
Despite having no real tongue to speak of my speech isn't too bad (people can understand what I'm saying- apart from certain sounds like D, G, L, N, T, th etc) but surprisingly I get by fairly well.
The issue that's really getting me down is eating. I have a stomach tube, but I can manage (and taste!) liquids. Although I struggle with anything a bit thicker (mash potato for example) as I just can't move food from the front of my mouth to the back.
I suppose my question is- will this ever get better? Is there anyone else who has had as much of their tongue removed as me that can manage more than just liquid? If I have to rely on the feeding tube for life as a "top-up" then I can live with that, but it gets me down to think I might never eat again.
Any in-put much appreciated.
Heather
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