Tongue cancer: How long is the process from treatment to recovery?

@krisohlson Thanks for replying..Even the roof of my mouth swells up like blisters just like after eating food that's too hot. My soft palate hangs lower after the surgery so that's a hastle trying to swallow. The mucous or lymph fluid collects above the soft palate 24/7. wakes me up after 2 hours of sleep every night. So I spray saline up my nose to try and clear it. It clears a little at a time..Too thick at times to just swallow it. The back of my palate feels cool to my tongue telling me radiation has ruined the circulation.

@gareee314 yes I agree, my doctor keeps telling me it will get. better? January will be 1 year. I also wake due to mucus feeling like your drowning.

@krisohlson Thanks for replying..Even the roof of my mouth swells up like blisters just like after eating food that's too hot. My soft palate hangs lower after the surgery so that's a hastle trying to swallow. The mucous or lymph fluid collects above the soft palate 24/7. wakes me up after 2 hours of sleep every night. So I spray saline up my nose to try and clear it. It clears a little at a time..Too thick at times to just swallow it. The back of my palate feels cool to my tongue telling me radiation has ruined the circulation.

@krisohlson Thanks for replying..Even the roof of my mouth swells up like blisters just like after eating food that's too hot. My soft palate hangs lower after the surgery so that's a hastle trying to swallow. The mucous or lymph fluid collects above the soft palate 24/7. wakes me up after 2 hours of sleep every night. So I spray saline up my nose to try and clear it. It clears a little at a time..Too thick at times to just swallow it. The back of my palate feels cool to my tongue telling me radiation has ruined the circulation.

@gareee314 Follow the directions of your therapist. Do your exercises!
I had a mucous problem too. 2/3 of the way through radiation treatment in 2010, I had developed a runaway sinus problem. It was bad. It slowed to a point I could live with it after I had a stroke. I recovered from the stoke (4 days in the hospital) and when back to work. My mucous was thick as well. Now that I can't swallow at all, I gargle, hack & spit constantly. If you can improve your swallowing, maybe you start swallowing you mucous.

@krisohlson Thanks for replying back . So I guess once you get radiation you radiate for life..In other words it keeps working on you. My last throat radiation was in 2022 and I noticed my inside upper gums near my teeth or the roof of my mouth gets blistered now and then. This only started less than a year ago. I have had this mucous problem since after radiation which is coming from "above" the roof of my mouth 24/7. I am constantly snorting to get it out. I also use that nasal saline spray that helps getting it to slowly ooze out..Mucous won't come out by blowing my nose because it's thick. It feels like a marble above my soft palate which is obstructing my swallowing even after I get rid of it. I can swallow little gulps of water if I turn my neck to the left. I am seeing a speech therapist for the swallow exercises.

@tracey8

Hi, I am. New here. Was diagnosed in August of 2025 with tounge cancer. I had surgery on October 2025, I had a partial glostomy removing 40% of tounge. Had a free flap replacement with my forearm,and thigh. Did 35 rounds of radiation, They also did a neck resection and found 2 lymnods with cancer, they removed all with good margins . Oncology said I did not need Chemo due to the tumors being contained,and not looking to spread. I also had a feed tube placed best decision I made.Lost 65 pounds during all this,and still have feeding tube. Also had to have 9 teeth removed before radiation so I was unable to chew food, just recently received my partial dentures, having trouble getting used to them. August 20 of this year I had a second surgery to debunk my tounge flap,making it smaller so it will be easier to chew,eat. I have taste greatfull for that,but took almost a year to get back,very dry mouth,on saliva medication, to soon to tell if it's working. Have had Two scans both looking good so far.next one is in November, doctors said if I can get past the first year without reoccurring mychances improve 80% of none recurring. Now. biggest challenge is gaining weight, can't have feed tube removed until I put on 20 pounds. Pretty much still feeding threw tube Kate Farms ,worked best for me. I hope I can give some hope and encouragement to those going through this unfortunate situation. Thanks Blrssingg.Tracey Wood