After Tim Turner started feeling ache in his jaw, medical doctors found an ulcer beneath his tongue. A CT scan and biopsy in early 2023 confirmed he had tongue most cancers – once more.
As a result of he’d had radiation remedy and chemotherapy to deal with the preliminary most cancers in 2021, Tim’s choices have been restricted. His native medical doctors advised surgical procedure. Tim needed a second opinion.
“My spouse requested the radiologist the place he would go for a second opinion if his spouse had most cancers,” Tim remembers. “He mentioned, ‘MD Anderson.’”
Selecting MD Anderson for tongue most cancers surgical procedure
Tim requested an appointment on-line and obtained a name from MD Anderson inside half-hour. He had an appointment a few weeks later with a multidisciplinary group led by head and neck surgeon Neil Gross, M.D. Through the preliminary go to, Gross and the group laid out a plan that included present process just a few rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy to shrink the tumor earlier than surgical procedure. Tim and his spouse, Michele, mentioned the plan and determined it was the most suitable choice.
Beginning that March, Tim underwent three classes of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The tumor shrank, and in consequence, he had much less of his tongue eliminated throughout his surgical procedure in Could 2023.
Transoral single-port robotic surgical procedure for tongue most cancers
Tim underwent single-port robotic surgical procedure, a minimally invasive method by means of the mouth that helps sufferers get well quicker.
“For chosen sufferers with cancers of the tonsil or the bottom of the tongue, transoral single-port robotic surgical procedure is healthier,” Gross says. “Utilizing the robotic permits us to keep away from the old school method of splitting the jaw.” Throughout Tim’s 13-hour surgical procedure, Gross used a single port robotic to take away the tumor from the bottom of his tongue earlier than plastic surgeon Z-Hye Lee, M.D., carried out reconstructive microsurgery.
Tim stayed within the hospital for a couple of week after surgical procedure. He used a feeding tube for 3 months, re-learning tips on how to swallow, due to the prior radiation. A nurse ensured he knew tips on how to arrange his feeding tube when he returned dwelling. Tim says studying tips on how to eat and swallow once more was essentially the most troublesome half after surgical procedure.
“The feeding tube was a little bit of a battle and extra boring than something,” he says. “However at this level, I can eat absolutely anything I need to, and apart from that, I haven’t got a grievance.”
Thriving after tongue most cancers therapy
Right this moment, Tim is again to work as an expert artist and having fun with his favourite actions like understanding, mountain climbing and visiting his grandchildren in Washington, D.C., and Switzerland. He created a collection of work referred to as “Songs of Celebration” that showcases collage work with teapots, flowers and wine cups – gadgets that he associates with celebration.
“Making artwork has been good for me in some ways,” says Tim, who works in his studio every single day. “It takes my thoughts off issues because it did to get me by means of most cancers therapy.”
Tim is grateful for his care group and that he selected MD Anderson for surgical procedure.
“It completely couldn’t be any higher,” he says. “Everybody at MD Anderson may be very informative, very compassionate. We couldn’t ask for a greater group.”
Request an appointment at MD Anderson on-line or name 1-877-632-6789.
