Tongue cancer: new courage to face life thanks to complex surgery
Guido Lindken is in his early 50s, a married family man and travels a lot as a sales representative. In his free time, he is active in sports, plays tennis and soccer and meets up with friends. In March 2021, he notices that he finds it harder to breathe and starts sweating quickly even with minor exertion. For no apparent reason, his fitness has declined significantly. When the swelling of the lymph nodes on the left side of his neck persists for weeks and a foreign body-like sensation when swallowing does not go away, he visits an ENT practice.
The diagnosis is a shock: cancer at the base of the tongue. "I had never heard of tongue cancer before. It pulled the rug out from under my feet," recalls Lindken. The tumor is removed immediately, as is a lymph node metastasis. Lindken also receives radio chemotherapy. Just two years later, in 2023, the cancer returns. As the tumor tissue is located deep in the base of the tongue, the only remaining options are extensive surgery or palliative therapy to contain the tumor for as long as possible. Guido Lindken wants to fight, even if he has a long, rocky road ahead of him. He turns to the Head and Neck Tumour Centre at Helios Hospital Krefeld, a center specializing in complex tumour surgery.
Rita Ligaszewski takes over from here. As head of the head and neck oncology section, she specializes in performing these procedures, which also include reconstruction using transplants. She explains to Mr Lindken clearly and in detail from the outset what he is in for: an almost day-long operation in which the tumor and lymph nodes are removed and the area at the root of the tongue is then immediately reconstructed using skin from the forearm. The surgeon explains that a tracheotomy is necessary for ventilation, as well as a PEG tube for nutrition. He will not be able to eat or swallow for the time being.
Lindken survived the operation well and underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy until April 2024. It is a marathon that not only challenges him physically, but also pushes him to his emotional and mental limits. "My family and friends, the encouragement from my work colleagues carried me through this time - and Ms. Ligaszewski's positive manner. She always encouraged me and told me that we could do it together. I always saw a light at the end of the tunnel," the 55-year-old recalls the difficult time. In August, Guido Lindken and Rita Ligaszewski sit across from each other again and she has good news for him: his body has had a CT scan and samples have been taken. No more cancer could be detected. Guido Lindken is relieved: "The news has given me even more strength. I'm so looking forward to going on vacation, eating out with my family, going back to the stadium and bowling with my mates. These are prospects that I didn't have six months ago.
