Tongue Cancer: What are my treatment options?

I appreciate all of the helpful info on what to expect. I do hope your husband's cancer does not return. Did he have surgery to remove part of his tongue? That is one of my biggest fears. Does the chemoradiation cause any problems with speech and taste?

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No surgery. He underwent 35 rounds of radiation. Because of his age, cisplatin (chemo) was not recommended. His speech has not been affected but he did lose his taste very early in his radiation treatment. He was told that he would eventually regain his sense of taste. His neck wounds post treatment are worse now than during treatment. (he is one week after last radiation as I write this) We were also told that this would happen for 2 weeks post treatment, so we weren’t alarmed. Keep doing everything your team is recommending, and with a lot of hope and prayers, everything will work out. Stay strong!

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My speech is slurred and it is still difficult to swallow most foods after being 6 years out. My epiglottis is barely functioning which causes aspiration so I really need to be careful when eating and prefer to eat solids only when my wife is home.
Also, the treatments were as strong as they could give me so I am left with tinnitus, migraines, stiff neck, weakness and brain fog.
Though I’m not like I use to be I’m still alive!

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Everything I hear is so depressing. I'm to old to go through this. I just want to go pain free and let nature take it's course.

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Don’t despair. The treatment is tough but very doable. There are many new drugs that will help. The shock is just that. Work through it and seek good information and you can and you will get through this.

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My speech is slurred and it is still difficult to swallow most foods after being 6 years out. My epiglottis is barely functioning which causes aspiration so I really need to be careful when eating and prefer to eat solids only when my wife is home.
Also, the treatments were as strong as they could give me so I am left with tinnitus, migraines, stiff neck, weakness and brain fog.
Though I’m not like I use to be I’m still alive!

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Welcome @mojo244. As a 6 year survivor, what tips might you offer to @anybody10 who is just starting treatment and worried that the side effects of treatment are tough at 79 years?

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Well I am 60 years old and the past 6 years has been a bit rough due to the following: chronic fatigue, chronic ear pain, extremely loud tinnitus, loss of hearing, brain fog, slurred speech, chronic migraines 24/7, dry mouth and extreme difficulty eating solid food.
I am currently receiving (4th round) Botox injections for the treatment of the migraines. Round 2 helped for a month, my pain level was down to a constant 5. Round 1, 3 and 4 reduced the amount of 10 pain days but never seen a 5. Doctor and NP say I need to give it at least 1 1/2 years (6 treatments) to see a good result.
But with all of my listed problems don’t be discouraged as treatments can be different for every patient! Your chemotherapy and radiation may not be as high as mine and your body may respond and recover differently from mine. The best advice I have for you is trust your providers, follow their instructions and trust that they are going to kill your cancer!
Don’t let worry be your guide, stay focused, know you have a support group and know your oncologist know what they are doing. If you’re a Believer trust that God hasn’t left you!
I wish you the best and I witnessed a 90 year old couple get to treatments in snow, ice and extreme cold temperatures. Each day the wife helped her husband in and out without help from staff. Though the husband was obviously not feeling well and his wife was a survivor as well they were like troopers marching off to war.
You can do this, many before us and many after us have and will survive!

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