Young Tongues

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, they explore the conversations they wish had happened at diagnosis, the uncertainty surrounding fertility and pregnancy after treatment, the emotional impact of becoming pregnant after cancer, and the anxieties that can accompany every stage of the journey. The discussion also highlights the importance of self-advocacy, the value of peer support, and the urgent need for more research and better clinical guidance for younger adults affected by tongue cancer.Whether you're thinking about starting a family now, in the future, or simply want to better understand this often-overlooked topic, this episode offers reassurance, practical insights and the comfort of hearing from others who have walked the same path.Please note: This episode shares personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. If you have questions about fertility, pregnancy or family planning after cancer, please speak with your healthcare team. 💬 Need Support?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: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com📢 Get InvolvedWe’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💛 Support Our WorkWe’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 & ConnectInstagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

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, discussing advocacy, hope, grief, and the importance of simply showing up for those facing cancer. A powerful and compassionate episode that reminds us cancer affects the whole family.Please note: This episode includes discussions about advanced cancer, end-of-life care, bereavement and grief.💬 Need Support?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: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com📢 Get InvolvedWe’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💛 Support Our WorkWe’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 & ConnectInstagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

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 and eat again, coping with visible changes to her appearance, and enduring the long-term effects that continue a decade later.In this deeply honest conversation, Roz also discusses the emotional impact of losing teeth, dating after cancer, her experience managing pain with medical cannabis, and the importance of finding a community that truly understands. Through it all, her unwavering determination and belief that "my purpose is bigger than my pain" shines through.This is a powerful episode about resilience, identity, and proving that life after tongue cancer can still be full of hope.💬 Need Support?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: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com📢 Get InvolvedWe’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💛 Support Our WorkWe’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 & ConnectInstagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

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 live beyond a cancer diagnosis.The episode also takes a deeper look at the emotional side of survivorship, discussing delayed grief, burnout within patient advocacy, and how supporting others while living with your own diagnosis can take an invisible toll. Barbara and Stef share their own experiences of navigating identity, finding balance, and learning that healing is rarely a straight line. They also pay tribute to beloved Young Tongues community member Mus, reflecting on his extraordinary resilience, the impact of clinical trials, and the legacy he leaves behind. Along the way, Barbara shares exciting updates on the future of Young Tongues, the Patient Hub, and her new role as Interim Chair of the Head and Neck Cancer Coalition UK.This episode is a reminder that survivorship is about far more than being cancer-free—it's about learning to live, grieve, grow and keep moving forward together.💬 Need Support?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: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com📢 Get InvolvedWe’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💛 Support Our WorkWe’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 & ConnectInstagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

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-term impact of tongue cancer on speech, eating, friendships, work, relationships, fitness, and mental health. They discuss the loneliness that can follow treatment, navigating the workplace with a speech difference, adapting to fatigue, and why healing is measured in years - bnot months.Despite the challenges, this is ultimately a conversation filled with hope. Sinead reflects on rediscovering joy, rebuilding confidence, returning to the gym, and embracing a new version of herself.💬 Need Support?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: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com📢 Get InvolvedWe’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💛 Support Our WorkWe’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 & ConnectInstagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List

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 researchers, clinicians and industry partners. The hosts also reflect on recent developments in head and neck cancer research, discussing the excitement surrounding emerging treatment approaches while exploring the challenges of interpreting scientific breakthroughs through media headlines. They highlight the importance of balancing hope with realism and explain why even incremental improvements in treatment can have a meaningful impact on future patient outcomes.💬 Need Support?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: podcast@youngtonguesglobal.com📢 Get InvolvedWe’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💛 Support Our WorkWe’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 & ConnectInstagram | Facebook | TikTok | Mailing List