Woman’s tongue cancer misdiagnosed, rebuilt with leg tissue after 13-hour surgery

Elaine Sawyer, a 54-year-old former caterer from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, first received a diagnosis of mouth thrush in October 2023, which she questioned and pursued a second medical opinion. A referral to the specialist head-and-neck unit at Queen Victoria Hospital led to a confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in February 2024 following the discovery of a tongue ulcer. She underwent a 13-hour surgery in April 2024 that excised half of her tongue and reconstructed the missing portion with tissue harvested from her leg, after which she experienced hair growth on the graft that was later eliminated by daily radiotherapy.

The treatment also involved removal of lymph glands in her neck due to cancer spread, a six-week course of harsh radiotherapy, and a temporary feeding tube. Sawyer reports ongoing difficulties with eating, speaking, and tolerating certain foods and drinks, but she is now in remission and working to stay active. She attributes the rise in mouth cancer cases to reduced dental visits, noting NHS data showing a 37% increase in England over the past decade.