What happens when an everyday cold meets a body that’s been through tongue cancer treatment?

With Barbara away, Stef and Jamie have been left in charge of the podcast — which may or may not have been a terrible decision.

After Stef is struck down by a particularly nasty cold, they get talking about something that probably feels very familiar to many people in the Young Tongues community: being ill after treatment just isn’t the same as it was before.

Dry mouth gets drier. Swallowing becomes harder. Coughing, sneezing and clearing phlegm can suddenly become a logistical operation. Medication isn’t always easy to take. And when familiar pains return — particularly around the ear, jaw or neck — an innocent virus can also bring some very unwelcome thoughts about recurrence.

Stef and Jamie talk candidly about the long-term realities of treatment, invisible side effects, fatigue, learning to give yourself permission to rest, and why friends and family may not always understand just how much effort goes into appearing “normal.”

There are also saline sprays, emotional-support water bottles, disastrous food choices, humidifier experiments, “mouth lube” and considerably more discussion of bodily functions than Barbara would probably have authorised.

It’s honest, occasionally gross, surprisingly funny and ultimately a reminder of why we talk about this stuff in the first place.

Because however weird the side effect, however ridiculous the situation, and however many years it’s been since treatment — chances are, another Young Tongue gets it.

If you’ve been diagnosed with tongue cancer (or are supporting someone who has), you can find help here:

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