Woman Replaces Tongue Using Skin From Her Arm

A woman who lost her tongue to cancer found a unique way to replace it. Jennifer Alexander was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with stage one tongue cancer. For over a decade, she had recurring recurring leukoplakia, which was a painful white patch on her tongue caused by HPV. In August of 2009, she developed a blueberry-sized tumor and was rushed to a dentist where she was given a biopsy. After undergoing surgery that month, the cancer returned twice in 2017 and 2019. In 2020, she had tongue reconstruction surgery to prevent the tumor from regrowing. Her tongue is now a piece of flesh with a blue star tattoo from her left bicep. Alexander has lost 60% of her taste buds and has had to re-learn to talk, sing and eat again. (NY Post)