Emma was given around 6 months to live. Her story is every person’s nightmare.
In early 2020, Alexandra’s daughter Emma started having pain on one side of her mouth. Thinking it was her wisdom teeth, she went for x-rays, but nothing showed up.
To look at it, there was nothing there – just pain. Gradually a lump appeared, which doctors thought was an ulcer, prescribed cream and sent her away.
The pain persisted, and soon after consulting with a doctor in Sydney, Emma was told she had tongue cancer.
Emma (pictured) didn’t think the pain in her mouth would be cancer.
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Not long after her diagnosis, Emma started to feel like her throat was closing up. She was running out of time.
Emma had an operation on 18 June, followed by chemo and radiation. Initially, she felt good. However, later that year, she went in for a scan and was told the cancer was back.
Alexandra reflects:
"We went back to St Vincents after Christmas and were told the devastating news that the cancer had metastasized. It was terminal and there was nothing they could do. At that stage – the beginning of January 2021 - they gave my beautiful daughter Emma just six months to live."
Sadly, Emma died on the 1st of February 2021.
There is no cure for tongue cancer. But there can be improved treatment through increased funding for research.
Emma's mum Alexandra reflects, “I find it hard to grasp that there is no cure for tongue cancer. The doctors have said they have no idea why it happened,” Alexandra says.
“So many people don’t know that you can get cancer on your tongue. We are told a lot about breast cancer, and prostate cancer but we would never have known about tongue cancer. But it is out there, and it is on the rise.”
By donating to Cancer Council, you will help fund research into important cancers such as tongue cancer and help families such as Emma and Alexandra’s.
Tongue cancer is one of the lesser-known cancers, but it still affects thousands of Australians every year.
Mouth cancer is not common. It is estimated that 687 new cases were diagnosed in Australia last year.
Around 59% of mouth cancers in Australia are caused by smoking. Around 31% are caused by excess alcohol consumption.
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