Mum has tongue rebuilt with muscle from her arm after cancerous mouth ulcer

2 August 2018

A young mum has undergone surgery at The Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford to rebuild her tongue using muscle and skin from her arm after a cancerous ulcer was found in her mouth.

Liz Marsh, 28, was referred to PRH by her dentist after an ulcer in her mouth had tripled in size. She was diagnosed with mouth cancer.

Mr Sunil Bhatia, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs PRH and The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, performed urgent surgery to remove the ulcer

After having skin, muscle arteries and veins taken from her arm, Mr Bhatia and his team removed a third of Liz’s tongue and rebuilt it within the same 14 hour surgery.

Despite having to relearn to talk, eat and smile, Liz couldn’t be happier she has beaten the aggressive form of cancer.

The mother-of-one Liz, from Shrewsbury, said: “I was shocked when surgeons explained that skin, muscle, veins and nerves from my arm would rebuild my tongue.

“Thankfully my consultant at PRH was amazing and he reassured me that I could be fixed.

“For months after my surgery I struggled to smile as my mouth felt numb but now I am embracing my imperfections.”

Liz had the ulcer on her tongue alongside 58 lymphnodes in her neck removed – known as a neck dissection – to ensure the cancer hadn’t spread.

She added: “I knew I would have a few scars after the surgery but I was determined to get through it.

“I had a lot of muscle and veins removed from my arm so they could help rebuild my tongue.

“It was a complex surgery but I was out of hospital 11 days later.

“I had been fed through a tube for the entire time I was in hospital and I had to try and relearn to eat once I left.

“I also needed speech and language therapy as part of my tongue was removed.

“It was all really swollen for a long time but eventually I started to enjoy eating again.”

Liz was initially diagnosed with mouth cancer in October 2016 but has since undergone further surgery just two months ago.

“It has been over 18 months since my first diagnosis and I have opened up on social media about how it has affected me mentally.

“I hope being open with my story helps others seek help, if it saves one person’s life then it’s worthwhile. If you have an ulcer, white patches or a lump in your mouth then make sure you get it checked.

“I currently have check-ups every eight weeks but this will be extended the longer I’m in remission. I’m so thankful to have a second chance and I know my positive attitude has helped ensure I beat cancer.”

Mr Sunil Bhatia said: “Elizabeth presented with a large growth on her tongue that had to be removed and then reconstructed to allow her to eat, swallow and talk again.

“To do this we took a flap of skin, along with its arteries and veins, from Elizabeth’s arm and plumbed it into branches of the carotid artery and jugular vein, using incredibly fine sutures under a microscope.

“This type of operation can take between eight and 12 hours.

“The procedure was a complete success and I am delighted Elizabeth is making a full recovery. We are still in touch with one another and it’s great to see her doing so well.”