Tongue cancer - mine

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The radiation and chemo treatments are over. Considering the intensity of the treatments I did pretty well. That does not mean that there were not considerable effects. Before treatments I was making a lot of progress. I was able to take liquid via syringe and was in the beginning stages of beginning to talk. I have lost all taste and my mouth reswelled and closed up and thick secretions make me cough. Even though the treatments are over they are still working so improvement might not happen for a few weeks.

The staff at radiation gave a nice sendoff playing Kool and The Gang's "Celebration" on their computer and having me ring a "graduation" bell.

I'm glad to hear the treatments are over. I hope the effects subside quickly and you are able to regain the progress that you had already made towards recovery. Still thinking about you and praying for you.

Thanks APOM, I am grateful for the update. What a journey you have made through this, it's been a privilege to receive these updates and the outcome delights us all.

Great news. Hoping you feel well soon.

Oh, I'm so glad to hear this. Blue skies and sunny days from now on!

LOL.....about that hiatus from WP you talked about.

You really DIDN'T take any hiatus at all!

Glad you're doing better, Sir.

I thought I was going to feel worse then I did. I found time such as sitting there during four hours during chemo, between 5AM feeding and 8:30 AM departure for radiation. My therapies ended during the treatments which freed up a lot of time.There were a few sections I dropped, and I stopped for the most part posting Autism news stories

The mouth and tongue swelling from the radiation I finished a month ago has gone down and I still have some bad taste and secretions I cough out.

I had follow up appointments up with all my doctors this week. I will have a cat scan or MRI in two weeks and an overall Pet Scan in a few months. Both my radiation doctor and my surgeon wrote scripts allowing resumption of physical therapy (if insurance allows) and speech therapy mouth exercises and taking liquid foods by mouth via syringe if the leftover bad taste will allow for it.

Radiation effects are supposed to continue to decrease over the next months

For the American WP members happy 4th of July weekend. I hope the fireworks are not too jarring.

So you do not have to read the entire thread some background information for those new or just to refresh everyone's memory. In February 2015 I suffered a mild stroke. In September 2016 I had a tongue replacement operation due to tongue cancer. The cancer came back so I had another tongue replacement operation in February 2016. Due to these operations I lost the ability to speak an have to be fed via feeding tube. During this time I have been living in a rehabilitation facility.

The latest PET scan came back clean. The MRI did show a paralyzed vocal chord. I will be returning home next Wednesday November 16 with a home care aide who will be there 7 days a week, 4 hours a day. She can drive to doctors appointments and shopping etc. This is via Medicaid which I hope survives the Trump administration. I live with my elderly mom who needs the aide as much if not more than I do. The trach that was installed for breathing during the operation has recently been removed. A little bit of the speech has come back due to speech and swallow therapy. As far as feeding through the the mouth I am undergoing testing to see what will be possible. I can walk very well with a cane which I hope to get off soon

I'm glad you are recovering from your long ordeal. Yes, I also hope our necessary medical supports will not be ripped out from under us. Best wishes, Bea

Congratulations, Sir, on your recovery.

I don't believe Trump will be able to get rid of Medicare/Medicaid.

kudos to you on your patience in recovery. so glad for the PET scan news.

It took a long time with all the insurance bureaucracy I am undergoing intensive speech and swallow therapy and am making progress. I am able to eat pureed food and drink nectar thick liquids. Some of my words are understandable. Physical therapy should be resuming soon but until then I take a daily walk.

Thanks for the update, ASPartOfMe. I'm glad to hear things are progressing. *pins a medal on you*