Young Tongues

Tara Hanley was used to being the nurse — not the patient. In this episode, Tara joins Barbara to share her journey from a persistent tongue ulcer and repeated biopsies to eventually hearing the words: “It’s cancer.” As a public health nurse and mum of two young children, Tara talks candidly about trying to stay positive for everyone around her while privately confronting her own fears. She shares...

What happens when an everyday cold meets a body that’s been through tongue cancer treatment? With Barbara away, Stef and Jamie have been left in charge of the podcast — which may or may not have been a terrible decision. After Stef is struck down by a particularly nasty cold, they get talking about something that probably feels very familiar to many people in the Young Tongues community: being ill...

Last week on The Young Tongues Podcast, Dr Patrick Ha helped us understand the science behind adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) – an incredibly rare form of cancer that can affect the tongue. This week, we hear what it can actually mean to live through it. Barbara is joined by Young Tongues member Sonya , who was diagnosed with ACC at the base of her tongue four years ago after experiencing jaw pain...

Most conversations about tongue cancer – including many on The Young Tongues Podcast – focus on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). But SCC isn't the only cancer that can affect the tongue. In this episode, we're turning our attention to an even rarer diagnosis: adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) . As the number of people affected by ACC within the Young Tongues community grows, we wanted to better underst...

Scanxiety. If you’ve been through cancer, chances are you know the feeling all too well. In this panel episode of The Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara is joined by Young Tongues members Kelly and Noah for an open conversation about the anxiety that can surround scans, check-ups and the possibility of recurrence. Together, they explore what scanxiety actually feels like – from the physical tension an...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , Barbara sits down with Ashleigh Sharman , a mixed methods researcher at the University of Sydney and Fellow in Survivorship and Financial Toxicity with the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, to explore one of the most overlooked consequences of cancer: financial toxicity . While treatment side effects are often discussed, the financial impact of...

In this candid catch-up episode, Barbara, Stef and Jamie begin with plenty of laughter—sharing stories about theatre, summer adventures, travel plans, social media algorithms and the realities of trying to stay cool during record-breaking heatwaves. But as always, the conversation soon turns to life after tongue cancer. Jamie opens up about the heartbreaking struggle of trying to access restorativ...

Can you have a healthy pregnancy after treatment for tongue cancer? What questions should you ask your medical team? And how do you cope with the fear of recurrence while preparing to become a parent? In this special panel discussion, Barbara is joined by Young Tongues community members Nat, Chloe and Sarah-Jane ("SJ") to share their honest experiences of pregnancy after tongue cancer. Together, t...

When Dobie was diagnosed with tongue cancer at just 29 years old, Chaya's life changed overnight. In this deeply personal conversation, she shares the realities of supporting her husband through surgery, recurrence, clinical trials and, ultimately, the heartbreaking loss of the love of her life. Together, Barbara and Chaya explore the often-overlooked experiences of partners and caregivers, discus...

Ten years after being diagnosed with stage IV tongue cancer, Roz Salaguit reflects on the journey that changed every part of her life. What began as a tongue ulcer dismissed as "nothing serious" quickly became an aggressive cancer requiring extensive surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Roz shares the terrifying reality of waking up after an unexpected mandible split surgery, learning to speak...

Life after tongue cancer doesn't end when treatment finishes and neither do the challenges. In this honest and wide-ranging conversation, Barbara and Stef reflect on the realities of long-term survivorship that often go unspoken. From heat sensitivity, lymphedema and swallowing difficulties to chronic fatigue, brain fog and the daily balancing act of self-care, they explore what it really means to...

Nine years after her tongue cancer diagnosis, Sinead Keane joins Barbara for an honest conversation about what happens after treatment ends. From months of being told she was "too young and too healthy" to have cancer, through major surgery and radiation, Sinéad shares the realities of diagnosis, recovery, and learning to live in a body that has changed forever. Together, they explore the long-ter...

After a brief podcast hiatus, Barbara, Steph and Jamie reunite to catch up on a busy month filled with advocacy, conferences, research collaborations and growing awareness of tongue cancer around the world. The episode begins with updates from all three hosts, including Steph’s attendance at ASCO, one of the world’s largest oncology conferences, where she represented the patient voice alongside re...

In this deeply reflective and emotional episode of the Young Tongues podcast, Barbara and Steph come together for an honest conversation about grief, recurrence anxiety, survivorship and what it means to keep living fully after a tongue cancer diagnosis. The discussion begins with the recent loss of Naomi — a much-loved long-standing member of the Young Tongues community whose recurrence happened...

In this deeply honest and emotional follow-up conversation, Amelia returns to the Young Tongues podcast to update listeners on what has happened since her first appearance in Season 2. Following her initial tongue cancer diagnosis, surgery and radiotherapy, Amelia shares how she has since faced multiple recurrences in rapid succession. 💬 Need Support? If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (...

In this first panel episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara is joined by Rachael and Kaitlyn to explore the emotional reality of diagnosis. From the long wait between biopsy and results to the moment cancer becomes real, their stories reveal how uncertainty, fear, and shock take hold in different ways. Whether delivered in a five-minute phone call or a face-to-face consultation, the way bad...

In this episode, Barbara, Jamie and Stef dive into something that doesn’t get talked about enough: what actually happens after treatment ends. You reach that milestone and everyone around you breathes a sigh of relief. You’re told to get back to normal. Move on. Be grateful. But it’s not that simple. We talk about the reality of life after tongue cancer: the anxiety that lingers between scans, the...

In this episode, we’re joined by Laura (aka Dizz), one of the original members of Young Tongues, a trustee, and someone who has been part of this journey from the very beginning. Laura shares her full story — from the first symptoms that didn’t seem like anything serious, to a devastating diagnosis and being told she may never speak or swallow again. What follows is a journey shaped by second opin...

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Kevin Harrington, one of the world’s leading experts in head and neck cancer, to break down what’s really changing in tongue cancer treatment, and what it means for patients today. We talk about the rise in younger patients without clear risk factors, why we still don’t fully understand why this is happening , and what that uncertainty means for the futur...

Season 3 is officially here and we’re coming back bigger, louder, and with a brand new co-host. In this episode, we welcome Stef as our third co-host, reflect on how Young Tongues began, and share what’s coming this season — from honest conversations and expert guests to your stories. We also cover the growth of our global community, why fundraising matters, and exciting updates across research, p...

In the final episode of Season 2 of the Young Tongues Podcast , hosts Barbara and Jamie revisit the highlights of the past year. They reflect on the podcast’s accomplishments, sharing their favorite moments, standout guests and the most impactful interviews. The conversation turns personal as they explore childhood memories and cultural roots—Barbara’s in Switzerland and Jamie’s in San Diego. They...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , host Barbara sits down with Amelia, a fellow tongue cancer patient and mother of three, to share her powerful and deeply personal journey. Amelia's story begins in May 2024 with what seemed like a minor ulcer on her tongue—an issue initially dismissed by her dentist. Trusting her instincts, she sought a second opinion from her GP, leading to a biopsy...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , host Barbara is joined by Professor Camilla Dawson, a speech and language consultant. They explore Camilla’s professional background, her journey into speech therapy, and her deep commitment to supporting cancer patients. The discussion covers best practices for speech and language support before and after treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy....

In this powerful episode of the Young Tongues Podcast , Barbara sits down with Amy, a fellow tongue cancer survivor, as she recounts her deeply personal journey from diagnosis to recovery. Amy opens up about life before cancer: her career, family, and passions - and the moment an unexpected ulcer turned into a stage three diagnosis. She walks us through the physical and emotional trials of surgery...

In this episode of the Young Tongues Podcast, Barbara speaks with Elfie, a fellow tongue cancer survivor whose remarkable story is one of resilience and reinvention. Elfie opens up about her life-changing journey—from surviving a traumatic accident in her twenties that led to the amputation of her left leg, to facing a tongue cancer diagnosis years later. She shares the emotional and physical toll...