Cancer survivor fitted with NHS's first bespoke artificial tongue

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 00:07 · Archive

Dr Imogen Brooks has been given a custom-made prosthetic tongue after losing most of her natural tongue to cancer surgery.

Dr Imogen Brooks, an assistant medical writer from Newham in east London, has been fitted with what is thought to be the NHS's first bespoke artificial tongue. She was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of head and neck cancer, when she was 26. Surgery three years ago to remove a tumour resulted in the loss of most of her tongue.

Although her speech was good following reconstructive surgery, subsequent radiotherapy treatment caused the tissue to shrink significantly. This left Dr Brooks with speech difficulties that required her to use speech assistance technology to make telephone calls. She said she spent considerable time finding approaches to manage her condition with guidance from a speech therapist.

Speech problems caused Dr Brooks significant social and professional difficulties. She reported that acquaintances and past colleagues would avoid speaking to her in person. Strangers often looked at her 'in fear' when she spoke for the first time, and would frequently smile without responding, instead making assumptions about what she had said. These communication barriers caused issues with incorrect information, impacting her medical appointments and creating problems in the workplace.

Experts at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust spent months developing a custom-made prosthetic designed specifically for Dr Brooks to generate the maximum number of sounds. The prosthetic clips onto her teeth. She said the artificial tongue has made a 'massive difference' to her life, adding: 'What I really notice is how much more willing people are to listen to me, how much less difficulty they have understanding me, and when they have difficulties, how much more willing they are to ask me to repeat myself.'

How it is being reported

• Cancer survivor given artificial tongue in 'NHS first'Dr Imogen Brooks, 30, said she thought she may be "overreacting" when she went to her GP and asked them to check her tongue, before being diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma that required major surgery.Daily Express · 8 Oct, 00:02
• Cancer survivor is first to get new artificial tongue on NHSDoctor struggled to speak after losing her tongue aged 26 in operation to remove cancerous tumour - so recruited a team of colleagues to build her a new oneThe Mirror · 8 Oct, 00:01
• Cancer survivor who was left with speech problems given artificial tongue in NHS firstDr Imogen Brooks was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma – and surgery to remove a tumour had taken most of her tongueThe Independent · 8 Oct, 00:01
• Cancer survivor receives artificial tongue in NHS firstDr Imogen Brooks was diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of head and neck cancer, when she was just 26.Evening Standard · 8 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Dr Imogen Brooks · Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust · Newham

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