Oral cancer survivor: 5 quality of life hacks that I didn¡¯t learn until survivorship
When I was still in active treatment for stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, a type of?oral cancer,?I was so focused on staying alive that I couldn¡¯t think too far into the future.?
But after five years of being cancer-free, I finally transitioned to survivorship. That meant I only needed to come back to MD Anderson once a year for check-ups. It also meant I¡¯d meet with a nurse or a physician assistant instead...
My advice to other patients: Focus on today
I am a strong, athletic, never-been-sick type of person. I am also very career-driven. So when I was diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell...
Why I involved my kids in oral cancer recovery
When I was diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, a type of oral cancer, my husband and I tried to be as open and...
Half of my tongue is gone, but I couldn¡¯t be happier
I¡¯ve had four of my back teeth removed, the floor of my mouth rebuilt and more than half of my tongue replaced with an arm muscle. But other than a slight lisp and some scars on my neck and forearm, there are no obvious signs that I once had stage IV squamous cell carcinoma, a type of oral cancer.
Recovery from my oral cancer treatment was not fun. It was hard and scary and painful. But it was also worth it.
That¡¯s why I...
