Tongue cancer survivor thriving after minimally invasive surgery

After Tim Turner began feeling pain in his jaw, doctors discovered an ulcer underneath his tongue. A CT scan and biopsy in early 2023 confirmed he had tongue cancer – again.

Because he’d had radiation therapy and chemotherapy to treat the initial cancer in 2021, Tim’s options were limited. His local doctors suggested surgery. Tim wanted a second opinion.

“My wife asked the radiologist where he would go for a second opinion if his wife had cancer,” Tim recalls. “He said, ‘MD Anderson.’”

Choosing MD Anderson for tongue cancer surgery

Tim requested an appointment online and received a call from MD Anderson within 30 minutes. He had an appointment a couple of weeks later with a multidisciplinary team led by head and neck surgeon Neil Gross, M.D. During the initial visit, Gross and the team laid out a plan that included undergoing a few rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery. Tim and his wife, Michele, discussed the plan and decided it was the best option.

Starting that March, Tim underwent three sessions of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The tumor shrank, and as a result, he had less of his tongue removed during his surgery in May 2023.

Transoral single-port robotic surgery for tongue cancer

Tim underwent single-port robotic surgery, a minimally invasive approach through the mouth that helps patients recover faster.

“For selected patients with cancers of the tonsil or the base of the tongue, transoral single-port robotic surgery is better,” Gross says. “Using the robot allows us to avoid the old-fashioned approach of splitting the jaw.” During Tim’s 13-hour surgery, Gross used a single port robot to remove the tumor from the base of his tongue before plastic surgeon Z-Hye Lee, M.D., performed reconstructive microsurgery.

Tim stayed in the hospital for about a week after surgery. He used a feeding tube for three months, re-learning how to swallow, because of the prior radiation. A nurse ensured he knew how to set up his feeding tube when he returned home. Tim says learning how to eat and swallow again was the most difficult part after surgery.

“The feeding tube was a bit of a struggle and more boring than anything,” he says. “But at this point, I can eat just about anything I want to, and other than that, I don't have a complaint.”

Thriving after tongue cancer treatment

Today, Tim is back to work as a professional artist and enjoying his favorite activities like working out, hiking and visiting his grandchildren in Washington, D.C., and Switzerland. He created a series of paintings called “Songs of Celebration” that showcases collage work with teapots, flowers and wine cups – items that he associates with celebration.

“Making art has been good for me in many ways,” says Tim, who works in his studio every day. “It takes my mind off things as it did to get me through cancer treatment.”

Tim is grateful for his care team and that he chose MD Anderson for surgery.

“It absolutely could not be any better,” he says. “Everyone at MD Anderson is very informative, very compassionate. We couldn’t ask for a better team.”

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.