Young Tongues

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara sits down with Joe Butler, who shares his inspiring journey 13 years after being diagnosed with tongue cancer. Diagnosed at the age of 27 during a routine dental checkup, Joe discusses the shock of his diagnosis, the rigorous treatments of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, and the emotional and physical challenges he faced. Now a father...

In this episode Barbara interviews Kelly and her fiancé Tom about their experience with Kelly's tongue cancer diagnosis and treatment. Kelly, who is based in Pittsburgh and works as an administrative professional, shares her journey through two bouts of tongue cancer, highlighting the surgeries, treatments, and their impact on her life. Tom provides a caretaker's perspective, detailing the challen...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara welcomes back fellow Young Tongue Mus. Mus shares an update on his cancer journey, detailing the progression of his symptoms, diagnosis, and the treatments he's undergoing, including immunotherapy and participation in a clinical trial. Despite setbacks and complications, Mus remains determined to maintain a normal life, including celebrating hi...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, host Barbara interviews Lauren, a member of their community. Lauren, a 39-year-old mother of three from Virginia, shares her journey with tongue cancer. Diagnosed in late 2021 after initially thinking she had an ear infection, Lauren details her painful experiences, multiple surgeries, and the severe challenges posed by radiation and chemotherapy. Desp...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara sits down with Pete Jackson as he shares his journey with tongue cancer. Pete provides an intimate account of his life before and after diagnosis, detailing the early symptoms, the diagnostic process, and the challenges of treatment. Despite the fears and uncertainties, his resilience, positive mindset, and strong support network played a vital...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara and Jamie catch up on life events and reflect on recent activities, including World Cancer Day. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the difficult decisions around choosing to undergo radiation therapy for tongue cancer, drawing from both Barbara's and Jamie's personal experiences. The conversation highlights the impo...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, host Barbara welcomes Dr. Alexandra Kejner, a head and neck surgeon from South Carolina. Dr. Kejner shares her personal journey and professional background, highlighting her family's origins and her path to becoming a surgeon. The discussion dives into the intricacies of head and neck surgeries, the collaborative nature of surgical teams, and advanceme...

In this episode of The Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara interviews Kelly, about her experience with tongue cancer. Kelly details her initial symptoms, misdiagnoses, and the prolonged delays before receiving an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Throughout the conversation, Kelly highlights the lack of communication and inconsistent standards of care she faced. Despite these challenges, she shares how...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , Barbara Fountain speaks with Dr Elizabeth Marsh, an Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Dr Marsh specialises in researching human papillomavirus (HPV) and its role in causing head and neck cancers. The conversation covers a range of topics, including Dr Marsh's professional background, the nature of HPV, its transmission, and the di...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara welcomes speech pathologist and audiologist Dr Roganie Govender. The conversation delves into Dr Roganie Govender professional journey and contributions to speech and language therapy, especially for head and neck cancer patients. The discussion covers the importance of person-centered care, the role of speech and language therapy in...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, hosts Barbara and Jamie mark the show's one-year anniversary. They share their experiences navigating the Christmas season and strategies for coping with post-holiday fatigue. Reflecting on the challenges of living with and recovering from tongue cancer, Barbara also reveals the Young Tongues' plans for the year ahead, including new virtual and in-pers...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara talks to Maria Scott, a 47-year-old tongue cancer survivor. Maria shares her journey from being diagnosed with pre-cancerous cells in 2014 to going through stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. She discusses the rigorous treatments she underwent, including a hemiglossectomy, neck dissection, radiation, and chemotherapy. Maria also deta...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara and Jamie open up about recent challenges and personal milestones. Jamie shares the anxiety of discovering a new bump on her tongue and the immense relief when it turned out not to be cancer. Barbara reflects on her ambitious November plans that didn’t unfold as she hoped and bravely discusses her recent diagnosis of lipoedema. Together, they e...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, host Barbara interviews Dr. Melina Windon, MD from the University of Kentucky, a specialist in head and neck and microvascular reconstructive surgery. Dr. Windon discusses her medical journey, the complexities of tongue cancer surgeries, and her research on HPV-related cancers. She explains the surgical process, including the selection of donor sites f...

In this week's episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , we sit down with Steven, a beloved community member and actor who has been experiencing recurrent tongue cancer since 1997. Steven opens up about his journey from his initial diagnosis while working at Walt Disney World, to enduring multiple treatments—surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy—and the emotional rollercoaster that followed. Steven'...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, hosts Barbara and Jamie explore the multifaceted experience of 'scanxiety' — the anxiety associated with awaiting medical scan results. They discuss the profound psychological impact and communication challenges surrounding their tongue cancer diagnoses. The conversation incorporates personal anecdotes, revealing how different communication approaches...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara, along with her co-host Jamie, delves into the mental health struggles faced by young tongue cancer patients. They discuss the significant lack of mental health support in cancer treatment plans and stress the need for mental strength and agility. Personal anecdotes shed light on the long-term trauma, everyday challenges, and the importance of...

In this insightful episode of the Young Tongues podcast, host Barbara interviews Mus Tarry, a local councillor from Surrey, who shares his personal experience with tongue cancer. Mus recounts his journey from early symptom detection in 2022, through his diagnosis, to undergoing major surgery. The narrative delves into the emotional and logistical challenges faced, highlighting the critical support...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, we hear from Candi, a former nurse and police constable, who shares her deeply personal journey with tongue cancer. Candi opens up about her early life, career, and family, leading up to the moment she first discovered something was wrong during a routine dentist visit. She recounts the shock of her diagnosis, the emotional weight of sharing the news w...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, hosts Barbara and Jamie reunite after an eventful summer break, sharing deeply personal stories and meaningful reflections. Barbara opens up about her trip back home to Switzerland, where she raised awareness for tongue cancer while balancing her role as CEO of the Young Tongues charity. Meanwhile, Jamie recounts the harrowing experience of her family’...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara interviews Jennifer Alexander, a member of the community, who shares her experience with tongue cancer. Jennifer talks about her various diagnoses since her early twenties, her struggles with treatments, and her surgeries. She emphasizes the importance of HPV vaccination for preventing HPV+ oral cancer and shares her experiences in advocating f...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, host Barbara Fountain interviews Angilee Wilkerson about her experience with tongue cancer. Angilee, who noticed something was wrong when her tongue moved to one side, was diagnosed with stage 3 tongue cancer. Despite being given a 40% chance of survival with chemo and radiation, Angilee with the support of ther clinical team opted for a wait and watch...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara and Jamie continue their chat about radiation. Jamie recounts her struggles during this treatment phase, including severe dry mouth, thick mucus, painful blisters, and burns. She describes the coping mechanisms she employed, such as using a humidifier and experimenting with various soothing products. Jamie highlights the difficulty of maintaini...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Jamie introduces a guest very dear to her heart, Steph, who played a vital role during her own tongue cancer diagnosis. Steph, a critical care nurse, details her journey from discovering a lump under her chin to being diagnosed with stage three squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. She recounts the initial misdiagnoses, the eventual diagnosis pro...

In this episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara discusses her summer activities and experiences with her co-host Jamie. Jamie delves into her radiation experience for tongue cancer, including preparations, side effects, and the emotional journey. They touch upon the significance of having a support system, especially during COVID-19, and highlight the importance of mentally preparing yoursel...