Olivia Donnelly, from Kent, had persistent mouth ulcers for two years, with doctors initially believing she had a weakened immune system. Tests and biopsies by maxillofacial specialists in Ashford initially returned clear results, but earlier this year, she detected a lump on the side of her tongue. A biopsy of the lump led to a diagnosis of tongue cancer, which is exceptionally rare in younger people.
The tumor is five millimeters in size, but further scans revealed the condition was more severe than initially thought. The surgical plan involves removing 40 percent of her tongue and rebuilding it using skin from her forearm, with a number of inflamed lymph nodes also to be removed. The surgery is expected to last 10 to 12 hours, with a total recovery time of six months.
After surgery, she will need to relearn how to speak and eat. The specific type of tongue cancer and the exact surgery date have not been disclosed, and the prognosis for her case remains unclear.