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

Posted by earlenhaven @earlenhaven, Aug 14 7:31am

I have been diagnosed with tongue cancer. Lesions about 1 1/2' long and 1/2' deep under the left side of my tongue. I still teach for a living. How long is the shortest recovery that anyone has had?

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earlenhaven | @earlenhaven | Aug 28 3:31pm

In reply to @roblem "Hi @toriel41 I personally would get a second opinion at an actual cancer clinic that specializes..." + (show)

I would go with your gut feeling
.Earlen

roblem | @roblem | Aug 28 2:29pm

In reply to @toriel41 "Just recently diagnosed with Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the base of the tongue and I'm trying to..." + (show)

Hi @toriel41

I personally would get a second opinion at an actual cancer clinic that specializes in head & neck cancer. I did this in the past and it might of saved my life and at the very least gave me a better quality of life.

God bless

jmcfadzen | @jmcfadzen | Aug 28 8:22am

I had SCC at base of tongue. No surgery just chemo & radiation. However if you are not very comfortable with your docs I would definitely look at options. Not a situation you want to go through without being on the same page with your care team. It is hard enough, you don’t want to be second guessing your doctors.

toriel41 | @toriel41 | Aug 27 9:29pm

Just recently diagnosed with Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the base of the tongue and I'm trying to figure out treatment stuff. I've got a surgery planned but right now I'm thinking of moving my care from the facility it's at right now. Gut feelings are making me nervous about the doctors and if my best interest is also theirs.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 25 7:32pm

In reply to @earlenhaven "I have 2 questions: Would like to hear from more people. For those of you in..." + (show)

@earlenhaven, do you have your treatment plan now? What's next for you?

gareee314 | @gareee314 | Aug 25 7:14am

In reply to @krisohlson "It depends on the treatment. Did you get radiation treatment after surgery? How much?" + (show)

@krisohlson Yes. 30 rounds of radiation after surgery. Like I said they inserted that stupid nose feeding tube during surgery which irritated my soft palate from the chafing. I am wondering if that damaged my soft palate and why it's hanging lower than it should even though they removed the tip of it during surgery.

gareee314 | @gareee314 | Aug 25 7:12am

In reply to @krisohlson "@gareee314 10 years after receiving 35 radiation treatments (2020) my ability to swallow started to degrade...." + (show)

@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.

kris ohlson | @krisohlson | Aug 25 12:01am

In reply to @gareee314 "@roblem After my throat surgery they inserted a nose feeder in me too..Being that the tube..." + (show)

@gareee314
10 years after receiving 35 radiation treatments (2020) my ability to swallow started to degrade. Now 16 years after receiving radiation I cannot swallow, and I am living on a PEG for the last 3 years. I was never warned that I would lose my ability to swallow due to radiation and went through some night fevers due to aspiration. I had lymph nodes removed from the right side of my neck in 2020 when I went through surgery for my 2nd cancer treatment. It is hard to say which cause your swallowing problems. I think you can attribute it to both procedures.

kris ohlson | @krisohlson | Aug 24 11:37pm

It depends on the treatment. Did you get radiation treatment after surgery? How much?

roblem | @roblem | Aug 24 4:00pm

In reply to @gareee314 "@roblem After my throat surgery they inserted a nose feeder in me too..Being that the tube..." + (show)

Hi @gareee314

I am not sure. I would ask your medical team.

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