Young Tongues

Most conversations about tongue cancer – including many on The Young Tongues Podcast – focus on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). But SCC isn't the only cancer that can affect the tongue. In this episode, we're turning our attention to an even rarer diagnosis: adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) . As the number of people affected by ACC within the Young Tongues community grows, we wanted to better understand this very different disease and give our community reliable, accessible information from someone who knows it well. Barbara is joined by Dr Patrick Ha , Chief of the Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco, whose research includes the molecular changes that occur in adenoid cystic carcinoma. Together, they take ACC right back to basics. What exactly is it? How can a cancer of the salivary glands affect the tongue? How does it differ from the much more common SCC – and why can diagnosis sometimes be so difficult? They explore how ACC behaves, including its tendency in some people to grow slowly while still carrying the possibility of recurrence or metastasis many years later. Patrick explains perineural invasion, staging, surgery, radiotherapy and why long-term surveillance can look very different for someone with ACC. They also tackle one of the hardest concepts for patients to come to terms with: why doctors may sometimes choose to monitor metastatic ACC rather than treat it immediately – and how balancing treatment against quality of life can make “watch and wait” the right clinical decision, even when psychologically it can be incredibly difficult. The conversation also covers prognosis and why population statistics don't necessarily tell an individual patient what their future will look like, before turning to research and some of the emerging science offering hope for more targeted ACC treatments in the future. 🎙️ This is the first of two Young Tongues episodes dedicated to ACC. In our next episode, we'll move from the clinical perspective to lived experience, as Young Tongues member Sonia shares her own story of living with ACC. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scanxiety. If you’ve been through cancer, chances are you know the feeling all too well. In this panel episode of The Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara is joined by Young Tongues members Kelly and Noah for an open conversation about the anxiety that can surround scans, check-ups and the possibility of recurrence. Together, they explore what scanxiety actually feels like – from the physical tension and hypervigilance to analysing every new ache, pain or change in your body. They talk about the strange limbo of living from one appointment to the next, the agonising wait for results, and how a previous recurrence or difficult diagnosis experience can fundamentally change the way you respond to reassurance and statistics. Kelly shares the additional complexity of scanxiety after experiencing a recurrence that was discovered on a scan, while Noah reflects on being just a few years out from treatment and learning how to balance vigilance with not allowing fear to take over his life. Barbara brings the perspective of being seven years post-treatment and how her relationship with follow-up appointments – and her own body – has gradually changed over time. The panel also discusses access to scan results, patient portals, communication from healthcare teams, advocating for what you need from your clinicians, and the mixed emotions that come when appointments finally become less frequent. Most importantly, this is a conversation about learning to live in the space between check-ups: recognising when something genuinely needs investigating while finding ways to stop cancer from occupying every corner of your life. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , Barbara sits down with Ashleigh Sharman , a mixed methods researcher at the University of Sydney and Fellow in Survivorship and Financial Toxicity with the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, to explore one of the most overlooked consequences of cancer: financial toxicity . While treatment side effects are often discussed, the financial impact of cancer rarely receives the same attention. Together, Barbara and Ashleigh unpack what financial toxicity really means, from the immediate costs of treatment to the hidden, long-term effects on employment, careers, pensions, relationships and mental health. Drawing on her research in head and neck cancer survivorship, Ashleigh explains why people affected by head and neck cancers can face unique financial challenges, including the ongoing costs of dental care, speech therapy, rehabilitation, travel, and returning to work after life-changing treatment. The conversation also explores how financial stress influences recovery, why many people delay asking for help, and how current healthcare and welfare systems often fail to support survivors once treatment has ended. Find out more about Dr Ashleigh Sharman's work: • ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ashleigh_Sharman2 • ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9342-5061 • Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=VfdRWAgAAAAJ&hl=en 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this candid catch-up episode, Barbara, Stef and Jamie begin with plenty of laughter—sharing stories about theatre, summer adventures, travel plans, social media algorithms and the realities of trying to stay cool during record-breaking heatwaves. But as always, the conversation soon turns to life after tongue cancer. Jamie opens up about the heartbreaking struggle of trying to access restorative dental treatment following radiation therapy, exposing the frustrating realities of the US healthcare and insurance system. Together, the trio discuss the long-term impact cancer treatment can have on oral health, why restorative care is about far more than appearance, and the emotional toll of having to continually fight for care. Barbara reflects on speaking to healthcare communication professionals about what meaningful patient involvement should look like, sharing why patient organisations deserve to be treated as valued partners rather than an afterthought. The conversation explores research quality, safeguarding, tokenism and the importance of involving patients from the very beginning of research projects. Stef marks the anniversary of her diagnosis by reflecting on finally being believed after months of being dismissed because she was "too young" for tongue cancer. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you have a healthy pregnancy after treatment for tongue cancer? What questions should you ask your medical team? And how do you cope with the fear of recurrence while preparing to become a parent? In this special panel discussion, Barbara is joined by Young Tongues community members Nat, Chloe and Sarah-Jane ("SJ") to share their honest experiences of pregnancy after tongue cancer. Together, they explore the conversations they wish had happened at diagnosis, the uncertainty surrounding fertility and pregnancy after treatment, the emotional impact of becoming pregnant after cancer, and the anxieties that can accompany every stage of the journey. The discussion also highlights the importance of self-advocacy, the value of peer support, and the urgent need for more research and better clinical guidance for younger adults affected by tongue cancer. Whether you're thinking about starting a family now, in the future, or simply want to better understand this often-overlooked topic, this episode offers reassurance, practical insights and the comfort of hearing from others who have walked the same path. Please note: This episode shares personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. If you have questions about fertility, pregnancy or family planning after cancer, please speak with your healthcare team. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Dobie was diagnosed with tongue cancer at just 29 years old, Chaya's life changed overnight. In this deeply personal conversation, she shares the realities of supporting her husband through surgery, recurrence, clinical trials and, ultimately, the heartbreaking loss of the love of her life. Together, Barbara and Chaya explore the often-overlooked experiences of partners and caregivers, discussing advocacy, hope, grief, and the importance of simply showing up for those facing cancer. A powerful and compassionate episode that reminds us cancer affects the whole family. Please note: This episode includes discussions about advanced cancer, end-of-life care, bereavement and grief. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years after being diagnosed with stage IV tongue cancer, Roz Salaguit reflects on the journey that changed every part of her life. What began as a tongue ulcer dismissed as "nothing serious" quickly became an aggressive cancer requiring extensive surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Roz shares the terrifying reality of waking up after an unexpected mandible split surgery, learning to speak and eat again, coping with visible changes to her appearance, and enduring the long-term effects that continue a decade later. In this deeply honest conversation, Roz also discusses the emotional impact of losing teeth, dating after cancer, her experience managing pain with medical cannabis, and the importance of finding a community that truly understands. Through it all, her unwavering determination and belief that "my purpose is bigger than my pain" shines through. This is a powerful episode about resilience, identity, and proving that life after tongue cancer can still be full of hope. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life after tongue cancer doesn't end when treatment finishes and neither do the challenges. In this honest and wide-ranging conversation, Barbara and Stef reflect on the realities of long-term survivorship that often go unspoken. From heat sensitivity, lymphedema and swallowing difficulties to chronic fatigue, brain fog and the daily balancing act of self-care, they explore what it really means to live beyond a cancer diagnosis. The episode also takes a deeper look at the emotional side of survivorship, discussing delayed grief, burnout within patient advocacy, and how supporting others while living with your own diagnosis can take an invisible toll. Barbara and Stef share their own experiences of navigating identity, finding balance, and learning that healing is rarely a straight line. They also pay tribute to beloved Young Tongues community member Mus, reflecting on his extraordinary resilience, the impact of clinical trials, and the legacy he leaves behind. Along the way, Barbara shares exciting updates on the future of Young Tongues, the Patient Hub, and her new role as Interim Chair of the Head and Neck Cancer Coalition UK. This episode is a reminder that survivorship is about far more than being cancer-free—it's about learning to live, grieve, grow and keep moving forward together. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nine years after her tongue cancer diagnosis, Sinead Keane joins Barbara for an honest conversation about what happens after treatment ends. From months of being told she was "too young and too healthy" to have cancer, through major surgery and radiation, Sinéad shares the realities of diagnosis, recovery, and learning to live in a body that has changed forever. Together, they explore the long-term impact of tongue cancer on speech, eating, friendships, work, relationships, fitness, and mental health. They discuss the loneliness that can follow treatment, navigating the workplace with a speech difference, adapting to fatigue, and why healing is measured in years - bnot months. Despite the challenges, this is ultimately a conversation filled with hope. Sinead reflects on rediscovering joy, rebuilding confidence, returning to the gym, and embracing a new version of herself. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a brief podcast hiatus, Barbara, Steph and Jamie reunite to catch up on a busy month filled with advocacy, conferences, research collaborations and growing awareness of tongue cancer around the world. The episode begins with updates from all three hosts, including Steph’s attendance at ASCO, one of the world’s largest oncology conferences, where she represented the patient voice alongside researchers, clinicians and industry partners. The hosts also reflect on recent developments in head and neck cancer research, discussing the excitement surrounding emerging treatment approaches while exploring the challenges of interpreting scientific breakthroughs through media headlines. They highlight the importance of balancing hope with realism and explain why even incremental improvements in treatment can have a meaningful impact on future patient outcomes. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply reflective and emotional episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara and Steph come together for an honest conversation about grief, recurrence anxiety, survivorship and what it means to keep living fully after a tongue cancer diagnosis. The discussion begins with the recent loss of Naomi — a much-loved long-standing member of the Young Tongues community whose recurrence happened more than five years after treatment. Barbara shares the personal impact of losing someone who had been part of the community since the very beginning, while both hosts openly acknowledge the fear and emotional spirals that news like this can trigger for survivors navigating their own recovery journeys. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply honest and emotional follow-up conversation, Amelia returns to the Young Tongues podcast to update listeners on what has happened since her first appearance in Season 2. Following her initial tongue cancer diagnosis, surgery and radiotherapy, Amelia shares how she has since faced multiple recurrences in rapid succession. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first panel episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara is joined by Rachael and Kaitlyn to explore the emotional reality of diagnosis. From the long wait between biopsy and results to the moment cancer becomes real, their stories reveal how uncertainty, fear, and shock take hold in different ways. Whether delivered in a five-minute phone call or a face-to-face consultation, the way bad news is given shapes how it’s understood and remembered. As the conversation unfolds, the panel reflects on the overwhelming nature of treatment information, the gap between clinical explanations and lived experience, and the importance of support during this time. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Barbara, Jamie and Stef dive into something that doesn’t get talked about enough: what actually happens after treatment ends. You reach that milestone and everyone around you breathes a sigh of relief. You’re told to get back to normal. Move on. Be grateful. But it’s not that simple. We talk about the reality of life after tongue cancer: the anxiety that lingers between scans, the physical aftermath your body is still dealing with, and the strange identity shift that comes when the “big scary thing” is no longer front and centre — but never fully gone. From navigating follow-ups and healthcare systems, to learning how to trust your body again (or not), this is an honest conversation about survivorship that goes beyond the word “remission.” Because being “all clear” doesn’t mean everything is. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Laura (aka Dizz), one of the original members of Young Tongues, a trustee, and someone who has been part of this journey from the very beginning. Laura shares her full story — from the first symptoms that didn’t seem like anything serious, to a devastating diagnosis and being told she may never speak or swallow again. What follows is a journey shaped by second opinions, a groundbreaking clinical trial, and an extraordinary amount of resilience. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Kevin Harrington, one of the world’s leading experts in head and neck cancer, to break down what’s really changing in tongue cancer treatment, and what it means for patients today. We talk about the rise in younger patients without clear risk factors, why we still don’t fully understand why this is happening , and what that uncertainty means for the future. We also dive into immunotherapy: what it actually is, how it works, and why it’s starting to change outcomes in ways that simply weren’t possible before. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 3 is officially here and we’re coming back bigger, louder, and with a brand new co-host. In this episode, we welcome Stef as our third co-host, reflect on how Young Tongues began, and share what’s coming this season — from honest conversations and expert guests to your stories. We also cover the growth of our global community, why fundraising matters, and exciting updates across research, policy and future plans, including building a Patient Hub to make information clearer and more accessible. We also explore what it means to live beyond diagnosis — the reality, the humour, and everything in between. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here: 🌍 Website 🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website 💌 Contact us: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com 📢 Get Involved We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it: ✨ Volunteer & share your experience 🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast 🧠 Take part in research opportunities 💛 Support Our Work We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going. 👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here 📲 Follow & Connect Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of Season 2 of the Young Tongues Podcast , hosts Barbara and Jamie revisit the highlights of the past year. They reflect on the podcast’s accomplishments, sharing their favorite moments, standout guests and the most impactful interviews. The conversation turns personal as they explore childhood memories and cultural roots—Barbara’s in Switzerland and Jamie’s in San Diego. They also take a moment to thank their audience and acknowledge key contributors, including a special segment recognising individuals with honorary awards. The season wraps up with an open invitation for listener suggestions as they look ahead to Season 3. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , host Barbara sits down with Amelia, a fellow tongue cancer patient and mother of three, to share her powerful and deeply personal journey. Amelia's story begins in May 2024 with what seemed like a minor ulcer on her tongue—an issue initially dismissed by her dentist. Trusting her instincts, she sought a second opinion from her GP, leading to a biopsy and a life-changing diagnosis of tongue cancer. Amelia walks us through the whirlwind that followed: a partial glossectomy, neck dissection, and a radial forearm free flap reconstruction. She opens up about the difficult road to recovery, including the unexpected challenge of vocal cord palsy and the emotional weight of radiotherapy. Despite ongoing complications and the need for additional surgery, Amelia remains resilient. She speaks candidly about the strength she draws from her support system and her unwavering determination to live life to the fullest. The episode closes as she looks ahead to an upcoming procedure, facing the future with courage and hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , host Barbara is joined by Professor Camilla Dawson, a speech and language consultant. They explore Camilla’s professional background, her journey into speech therapy, and her deep commitment to supporting cancer patients. The discussion covers best practices for speech and language support before and after treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy. Key topics include the importance of meeting the care team prior to surgery, managing speech and swallowing difficulties and the effects of radiation on the muscles of the tongue and throat. Barbara and Camilla also address the emotional and psychological aspects of recovery, touching on issues such as intimacy after treatment and the concept of liminality. They highlight the value of personalised care plans and the ongoing need for innovation and research in the field. The episode concludes with an insightful look at tracheostomies, including how patients can prepare for them both mentally and physically. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.