Glossectomy 101: What to know about this common tongue surgery
A glossectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the tongue. It’s the primary recommended treatment for oral tongue cancer and can also be used to treat benign tongue conditions.
To learn more about glossectomies, we spoke with head and neck surgeon Karen Choi, M.D., and clinician scientist Carly Barbon, Ph.D. They answered questions about glossectomies, including the different types, and what to expect during the procedure and...
Head and neck surgeon-scientist: ‘We can make a real difference’
Xiao Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., isn’t exactly sure when it happened, but at some point in his fellowship, he started to realize that UT MD Anderson...
Two-time tongue cancer survivor: Why I support research at UT MD Anderson
Sometimes, the most meaningful breakthroughs in medicine aren’t about saving your life — they’re about saving your quality of life. That was...
What is dysplasia?
“Dysplasia” is the scientific term for “abnormal cells,” which don’t look the way they’re supposed to under a microscope. These abnormal cells are not considered cancer in and of themselves, but they do have the potential to become cancer someday, if left untreated. That’s why dysplasia is considered a precancerous condition.
So, how do you know if you have dysplasia? What causes it? And, how is dysplasia treated? Here...
Breast cancer survivor, oral cancer caregiver: ‘I’m so grateful now’
My husband, Alex, has survived five different oral cancer diagnoses since 2002. He’s had 90% of his tongue removed and his jawbone reconstructed...
3 pieces of advice from a 5-time oral cancer survivor
The first time I was diagnosed with oral cancer, I was only 26. The wart-like growth on my tongue was pretty small. A biopsy showed it was...
Floor of mouth cancer: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
The floor of the mouth describes the area underneath your tongue that extends along the margins of your jaw. It’s considered part of the oral...
What is erythroplakia? Symptoms, causes and treatment
Erythroplakia is the scientific term for abnormal red patches that can form inside the mouth. Though not usually cancerous themselves, they...
Cancer of the jaw: 8 things to know
Jaw cancer is a type of oral cancer that can develop in the jawbone or the soft tissue surrounding the jaw. Cancer from other areas of the...
Stage IV oral cancer survivor: How MD Anderson helped me reclaim my faith
As an International Coaching Federation Master Certified Coach, National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching-certified coach and behavioral...