Stage 1 Tongue cancer: What are the chances of recurrence?

Thanks so much

I am one week post surgery for squamous cell tongue cancer in Illinois. I have no idea what to expect. Will my tongue be numb and I talk with a slur for the rest of my life? Will my tongue feel burned forever? I return to the doctor next week for my post-op visit. I am guessing he will be able to answer a lot of questions. I am just curious what other's experiences were in the beginning.

Hi @crogers and welcome to our head and neck group. Everyone's experience is unique. Our body is amazing in it's ability to work around damage. For example, I have no feeling in my lower left lip yet have been able to figure out how to play the bugle again. I worked on my speech issues for months and basically learned to speak slower, thus clearer.
Give yourself time to heal. I take it you have no followup Radiation or Chemo, which should aid in faster recovery.
I also live in the flatlands although so close to Wisconsin that I can smell the cheese.

Hi @crogers,
What type of surgery did you have with your tongue cancer? I had left partial glossectomy with a left radical forearm free flap on April 3rd of this year with a modified neck dissection.

I live right above you in Wisconsin.