She Thought Her Mouth Sores Were Just Ulcers. Now She's Having Her Tongue Removed

Key Points:

• Olivia Donnelly, 25, was initially misdiagnosed with an immune system disorder after developing painful ulcers on her tongue, but was later diagnosed with tongue cancer following the discovery of a hard lump.
• She will undergo surgery to remove 40% of her tongue, which will be reconstructed using a skin graft from her wrist, and lymph nodes will be removed due to concerns about cancer spread, potentially requiring radiation treatment.
• Donnelly is documenting her recovery journey on TikTok to raise awareness about tongue cancer, a rare but increasingly diagnosed condition, affecting about 0.4% of men and women, with cases rising by 2.1% annually.
• Despite having vaped occasionally, doctors determined her cancer was due to bad luck rather than lifestyle factors, and she faces a six-month recovery period during which she will relearn speech and eating.
• Donnelly's story highlights the challenges of early diagnosis and the emotional impact of cancer treatment for young adults, as she balances her health journey with recent life changes, including moving into her first home with her fiancé.