Sherri
My husband is 40 years old and was diagnosed with tongue cancer in Oct. 2000. In an attempt to preserve his tongue we decided to try chemotherapy, external radiation and radiation implants. However, none of those treatments worked and the tumor continued to grow to a stage 4 tumor. In April 2001 he had his entire tongue removed and a free flap constructed to replace the tongue. He is slowly beginning to recover. He has some speech and is using a feeding tube for nutrition since he can not swallow and the free flap does not move. The doctors are not sure if the feeding tube will be permanent. Another small tumor was found in the margin areas but it is too soon after the major surgery to do anything about it. I wish you the best of luck as you deal with this.