Hi there!

First 200 books will be signed by this inspirational lady, so get your copy ordered today. Once you have donated please EMAIL sharon@theswallows.org.uk with your FULL POSTAL ADDRESS, without this we CAN NOT send you the book!

I had a 5.5cm tumour, which I named Larry, invading my tongue. He had to go, but with it he also took my tongue. I was told that I would never eat or speak again, unless I used a machine to speak and a tube into my stomach for liquid nutrition to be pumped through.

I refused to accept that my life would be that drastic, so I pushed and pushed myself to learn to swallow, speak and then finally eat. After many long months of tears, frustration, anger, grit and determination, I did it. I achieved my objective of all of the above. I am not living a life of soups and smoothies, even though they are very tasty, but I can have stews, fried chicken, salads and stir-fries. I can also talk and people actually understand me.

Learning to eat was slow and not always successful. It was a series of trial and error. There weren't any videos of people who have had a total glossectomy eating food. The Speech and Language Therapy teams were as helpful as they could be, but unless you have this problem then its difficult to be able to find what works for each individual.

So using my food background and passion for food and my passion for feeding people - I set myself the challenge to eat. Once I learnt which method worked for me I was able to move from soups to stews to well, pretty much anything, over several months.

Radiotherapy in the mouth compromises the saliva and can eradicate taste buds, but every person experiences different side effects and permanent changes from their treatment.

Some people are no longer able to eat tomatoes in one form or another yet some can, some are unable to take spices no matter the strength, whereas some people can take ridiculously spicy hot food. Some people lose their taste buds altogether.

This book is a guide, a tool to help you get that desire to eat again. Be able to curb your craving. There are hints and tips on how to make the food challenge your mouth during its rehabilitation period, but also make food sociable again.

I can't believe the book is complete. It's so incredible!

I'M DIZZ (Laura) Oral Cancer Survivor