Mum has new tongue made from her ARM after cancer treatment

5 years ago
10

A woman who had her tongue removed to fight cancer now has a new one - made from her ARM. Grandmother-of-four Joanna Smith, 58, is a non-smoker but was diagnosed with tongue cancer after she spotted a tiny 'ulcer' in her mouth. She was given eight months to live unless she had it removed, so underwent 15 hours of surgery. Medics took out her tongue via a hole in her neck and made a new one using skin, muscle and a long vein from her left arm. The cleaner, from Clapham, Bedfordshire, was able to talk as soon as she woke up and can now eat and drink on her own.

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