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 physical aftermath your body is still dealing with, and the strange identity shift that comes when the “big scary thing” is no longer front and centre — but never fully gone.

From navigating follow-ups and healthcare systems, to learning how to trust your body again (or not), this is an honest conversation about survivorship that goes beyond the word “remission.” Because being “all clear” doesn’t mean everything is.

If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:

🌍 Website

🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website

💌 Contact us: [email protected]

We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:

✨ Volunteer & share your experience

🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast

🧠 Take part in research opportunities

We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.

👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here

📲 Follow & Connect

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 opinions, a groundbreaking clinical trial, and an extraordinary amount of resilience.

If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:

🌍 Website

🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website

💌 Contact us: [email protected]

We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:

✨ Volunteer & share your experience

🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast

🧠 Take part in research opportunities

We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.

👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here

📲 Follow & Connect

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 future. We also dive into immunotherapy: what it actually is, how it works, and why it’s starting to change outcomes in ways that simply weren’t possible before.

If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:

🌍 Website

🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website

💌 Contact us: [email protected]

We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:

✨ Volunteer & share your experience

🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast

🧠 Take part in research opportunities

We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.

👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here

📲 Follow & Connect

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, policy and future plans, including building a Patient Hub to make information clearer and more accessible. We also explore what it means to live beyond diagnosis — the reality, the humour, and everything in between.

If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:

🌍 Website

🤝 Join support groups & mailing list: via the website

💌 Contact us: [email protected]

We’re building this with our community — and you can be part of it:

✨ Volunteer & share your experience

🎙️ Apply to appear on the podcast

🧠 Take part in research opportunities

We’re a small charity with a big mission — and we rely on community support to keep going.

👉 Find out more how to make a donation or fundraise for us here

📲 Follow & Connect

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and a life-changing diagnosis of tongue cancer.

Amelia walks us through the whirlwind that followed: a partial glossectomy, neck dissection, and a radial forearm free flap reconstruction. She opens up about the difficult road to recovery, including the unexpected challenge of vocal cord palsy and the emotional weight of radiotherapy.

Despite ongoing complications and the need for additional surgery, Amelia remains resilient. She speaks candidly about the strength she draws from her support system and her unwavering determination to live life to the fullest. The episode closes as she looks ahead to an upcoming procedure, facing the future with courage and hope.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of treatment, including the loss of taste and speech difficulties, and how she found strength through it all.

Despite multiple surgeries and setbacks, Elfie’s defiant spirit shines through. Post-recovery, she embraced challenges like rock climbing and axe throwing, redefining what’s possible after cancer. She also discusses her recent contribution to the book Unleashing the Courageous Feminine, a therapeutic milestone and a celebration of her voice. The episode concludes with a heartfelt conversation about the power of support groups, raising awareness, and holding onto hope for life after cancer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 significance of clear margins in pathology reports. Listener questions are addressed on topics such as genetic testing, the risk of biopsies spreading cancer, and the method of interpreting unusual looking cells in lymph nodes. The episode concludes with a focus on the future of cancer diagnosis and the role of primary care education in improving early detection.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.