Young Tongues

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara interviews Krishna Suchak, a consultant pathologist. Krishna explains her work, describing what a pathologist does, including analyzing tissue and fluid samples to diagnose cancer. She details the workflow from biopsy to diagnosis, the interpretation process, and how pathologists work with multidisciplinary teams. Krishna also discusses the sig...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara talks with Lynsi from Bedford, UK, about her journey with head and neck cancer. Diagnosed at 31, Lynsi shares her experience through multiple surgeries—including flap failures—and chemo-radiation after a recurrence. She discusses the challenges of moving between NHS trusts, the importance of self-advocacy, and how treatment affected her relatio...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , Barbara speaks with Susan, one of the founding members of the support group for young people with tongue cancer. Susan recounts her journey, which began with a small, painless sore on her tongue and led to a series of misdiagnoses over nine months. Eventually diagnosed with stage four tongue cancer, she underwent intensive treatment—including a hemigl...

In this heartfelt episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , co-hosts Barbara and Jamie reunite to reflect on both personal and professional milestones. Jamie marks five years since her cancer diagnosis, while Barbara candidly shares her ongoing journey with chronic fatigue syndrome and mental health challenges. The conversation also celebrates key achievements, including Barbara’s recent appearances...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , host Barbara sits down with her friend and fellow Young Tongues original, Molly—an adventurous veterinarian from Kansas. Molly shares her deeply personal journey with tongue cancer, from her initial diagnosis in 2020 to her current experience living with chronic cancer. She opens up about her treatment regimen, emotional challenges, and the crucial ro...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara sits down with Rachel Corby, a fellow tongue cancer survivor, to share her powerful story of diagnosis, treatment, and healing. Rachel opens up about receiving her diagnosis shortly after giving birth. She highlights the challenges of undergoing surgery and radiation while caring for two young children. She candidly discusses the physical and e...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, host Barbara interviews Ben, one of the original members of the peer support group. Ben shares his journey from initial diagnosis of tongue cancer to his extensive treatment and the long-term side effects he has endured. He discusses the moment he realized something was wrong, the process of his diagnosis, and the multitude of treatments he underwent,...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara speaks with Jarrod from Melbourne, Australia. Jarrod shares his personal story of being diagnosed with tongue cancer at age 35, the challenges he faced during diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, and how a strong medical background and support from family helped him persevere. He underwent extensive surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, experien...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, host Barbara interviews Janice Koh, a well-known actress and tongue cancer survivor. Janice shares her personal journey, from her diagnosis in July 2022 and the impact it had on her life and career, to her treatment and recovery process. She highlights the emotional and physical challenges she faced, including multiple surgeries and chemo-radiation, an...

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...