Katelyn’s Cancer Journey
Discover a brave mom’s journey tackling tongue cancer while pregnant with twins! Learn the importance of early detection & finding the right medical team!
30 Stories in 30 Days™ // April 2023
I gave birth to my oldest son in 2021. As I left the hospital, I noticed that I had a large sore on the side of my tongue. I thought I had possibly bitten my tongue by accident during my C-section. However, this sore did not go away over time. I became a bit more concerned, so I saw a dentist who recommended I monitor this sore over time. In the summer of 2021, I learned that I was pregnant again, this time with twins.
As I monitored this sore, I noticed it still did not go away. In early 2022, I saw another dentist for a second opinion, and this dentist recommended I visit an oral surgeon. A couple weeks later, I met with this oral surgeon, who took a biopsy.
Within two days, my surgeon informed me that I had cancer on my tongue. At that time, I was seven months pregnant with my twins. My physician recommended I have the cancer removed, but I wished to not undergo any procedures while pregnant. I did not want to go under anesthesia before giving birth.
Today… it feels difficult to speak for a long time without getting fatigued. But overall, my recovery went smoothly…
Fortunately, I worked closely with my oral surgeon and my OB-GYN to create a schedule that I felt comfortable with. I scheduled my C-section to deliver my twins around the middle of 2022. Four weeks after I delivered my twins, I had the cancer on my tongue removed, a surgery called a glossectomy.
After the procedure, I struggled to speak for about a week, and I could not eat comfortably for about two weeks. Over time, however, my speech naturally recovered. Even today, my speech feels a tad different, and it feels difficult to speak for a long time without getting fatigued. But overall, my recovery went smoothly. In fact, the most difficult aspect of my recovery was recovering from surgery while simultaneously recovering from a C-section.
Today, I regularly visit my surgeon for follow-up appointments. I undergo MRIs during my follow-ups, just to ensure everything looks okay. Because my surgeon fully removed the cancer, my scans have looked great.
…immediately take action when you notice something concerning…
I truly appreciate that I was able to detect my cancer early and have it removed. I cannot recommend enough the value of immediately taking action when you notice something concerning. As soon as I noticed the large sore on the side of my tongue, I received a first and second opinion, which I would highly recommend to anyone. My best advice is to ensure that you find and work with an oncology team that you feel comfortable with!
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For someone recently diagnosed with cancer, reading the stories of other caregivers and survivors can inspire.
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