1. < Head & Neck Cancer
Profile picture for badfish

Partial Glossectomy with free flap rebuild of tongue

Posted by badfish @badfish, Oct 24, 2023

I have an upcoming surgery for a partial glossectomy with a rebuild of my tongue using the free flap. I wanted to see if anybody had this same procedure done and how the recovery process went. My biggest concern is recovery of my tongue, how long will it take to eat normal and especially until I can speak. Did your speech get permanently altered?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head & Neck Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for logi
logi | @logi | Apr 7 10:03am
In reply to @shane1954 "@logi My partial glossectomy with reconstruction with a free flap was Feb. 12th. I still have..." + (show)
Profile picture for shane1954 @shane1954

@logi My partial glossectomy with reconstruction with a free flap was Feb. 12th. I still have a lot of swelling in my tongue after almost 8 weeks which is quite uncomfortable. I had a trach and feeding tube for a month. Spent 3 weeks in a rehab facility after a week in the hospital. I am now eating most foods except for some meats and crunchy things like salad and other raw vegetables. The wound at my freeflap donor site is still pretty ugly and I prefer to keep it covered when out in public wearing short sleeves. That will be harder with summer coming. My thigh where they took the skin graft to repair my forearm is pretty unsightly too. All of the healing is taking longer than I expected. I too had great pathology report with no further treatment needed. I had tongue cancer before in 2014 that required chemo and radiation so was thrilled to avoid that again because radiation especially was horrific. Best of luck to you - I know how hard it is to be patient through all of this.

Jump to this post

@shane1954 can I ask your age?
I am 78.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for shane1954
shane1954 | @shane1954 | Apr 7 10:40am
In reply to @logi "@shane1954 can I ask your age? I am 78." + (show)
Profile picture for logi @logi

@shane1954 can I ask your age?
I am 78.

Jump to this post

@logi I am 71. Will be 72 in June.

REPLY
Profile picture for shane1954
shane1954 | @shane1954 | 6 days ago

Has anyone had debulking done to their freeflap reconstruction on their tongue after a partial glossectomy? My surgery was Feb. 12th. I still have a lot of swelling in my tongue which has reduced somewhat. I am eating most foods now but my speech is still very impaired, although people say they can understand me even on the phone. I have a CT scan of my chest scheduled on June 4th because my dr. says if oral cancer spreads, the lungs are frequently where it spreads to (something else to worry about that I didn't know). My swallowing therapist told me if that scan is clear, then we could start discussing if I want to have the flap trimmed down (debulked). I'm not sure what this procedure involves although I know it is outpatient and I don't think it is painful much because the flap is numb. Does anyone have any insight about this?

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.