{"id":39031,"date":"2021-04-14T10:16:42","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T16:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=39031"},"modified":"2022-08-10T13:25:16","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T19:25:16","slug":"ready-to-deliver-her-baby-girl-she-received-a-diagnosis-of-tongue-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/ready-to-deliver-her-baby-girl-she-received-a-diagnosis-of-tongue-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Ready to deliver her baby girl, she received a diagnosis of tongue cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><figure id=\"attachment_39033\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39033\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-39033\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13135713\/Ryliecropped.webp\" alt=\"Anna Spiessbach with her baby girl, Rylie, who she was pregnant with during her diagnosis of tongue cancer.\" width=\"450\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13135713\/Ryliecropped.webp 612w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13135713\/Ryliecropped-300x285.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13135713\/Ryliecropped-150x142.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13135713\/Ryliecropped-200x190.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-39033\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">At 31 weeks pregnant, Anna Spiessbach got a diagnosis of tongue cancer. Photo courtesy Anna Spiessbach.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At 31 weeks pregnant, Anna Spiessbach and her husband Vernon Vavra were ready for their baby\u2019s arrival. The nursery was nearly complete. The car seat installed. Diapers, impossibly tiny pink shoes and soft, delicate onesies were neatly organized.<\/p>\n<p>The two of them should have been nesting together at home counting the minutes until their daughter made her way into the world.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Spiessbach was desperately trying not to cry while recording herself reading children\u2019s books like <em>Chicka Chicka Boom Boom<\/em> and <em>Goodnight Moon<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI tried to read <em>Love You Forever, <\/em>but I couldn\u2019t get through it,\u201d said Spiessbach. \u201cI wanted to make sure my daughter could hear my voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Days earlier, she received a diagnosis of tongue cancer, specifically, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/diseases-conditions\/basal-cell-and-squamous-cell-carcinomas\/\">oral squamous cell carcinoma<\/a> of the tongue. It was aggressive despite the absence of any risk factors like a history of smoking, excessive drinking or chewing tobacco. She was 33 at the time.<\/p>\n<h2>Symptoms of tongue cancer<\/h2>\n<p>Spiessbach is an <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.physicianassistantedu.org\/emergency-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">emergency medicine physician assistant<\/a>. She works long, difficult hours on her feet. During a shift in the winter of 2020 she bit her tongue at work, and thought nothing of it. Then again in April. This time her tongue wouldn\u2019t heal and she figured a course of antibiotics would do the trick. But by that Monday, a lymph node near her jaw was swollen \u2013 a sure sign of infection. She made an appointment with an otolaryngologist, an ear, nose and throat physician, who, to her surprise, ordered a biopsy after seeing her tongue.<\/p>\n<p>The diagnosis of tongue cancer came on Thursday, May 14.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt didn\u2019t seem possible,\u201d said Spiessbach, who connected with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/christopher-oliver-md\/\">Dr. Chris Oliver<\/a>, a head and neck surgical oncology specialist with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/locations\/uchealth-highlands-ranch-hospital\/\">UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Oliver did not want to delay surgery.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-callout-box col-xs-12 col-sm-6 right\" style=\"background-color:#dce4e7; color:#2e3b44;\">\n<p><strong>April is head and neck cancer awareness month. <\/strong><strong>Be sure and see your doctor if any of these symptoms persist:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lump, bump or mass in the neck.<\/li>\n<li>Red or white patch in the mouth.<\/li>\n<li>Persistent sore throat.<\/li>\n<li>Swelling or a sore that does not heal in nose, mouth, sinuses or throat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe lymph nodes were already cancerous and the risk of additional spread was high,\u201d said Oliver. \u201cWe needed to make some tough decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Treating tongue cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_39040\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39040\" style=\"width: 201px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-39040 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13145909\/Oliver.jpgtiny.webp\" alt=\"Dr. Chris Oliver, head and neck surgical oncology specialist with UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital.\" width=\"201\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13145909\/Oliver.jpgtiny.webp 201w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13145909\/Oliver.jpgtiny-120x150.webp 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-39040\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Chris Oliver, head and neck surgical oncology specialist with UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It didn\u2019t take long for a UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital multi-disciplinary team to form. Oliver and colleague Tracy Johnson, physician assistant; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/ann-granadillo-md\/\">Dr. Ann Granadillo<\/a>, OB-GYN; and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/ryan-lanning-md-phd-radiation-oncology\/\">Dr. Ryan Lanning<\/a>, radiation oncologist, gathered to discuss the complex case; a tricky balancing act that involved surgery on a 31-week pregnant woman, radiation, chemotherapy, recovery and many follow-up appointments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had to balance the timing of her cancer treatment with the development of her baby to maximize both their outcomes,\u201d said Granadillo.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the challenges, team Spiessbach was equal to the task.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t work in a vacuum,\u201d said Lanning. \u201cIt helped that we were all together in one hospital with opportunities to talk about the case and make informed decisions about her care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were so ready to help Anna,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Preparing for tongue cancer surgery<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Anticipating a temporary loss of taste, Spiessbach worked through her \u201ctaste bud bucket list,\u201d while the team planned the profound surgery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey were real with me,\u201d said Spiessbach. \u201cDr. Oliver started out by saying, \u2018ok let\u2019s all admit: this sucks\u2019, and then from then on they put me at ease.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTracy was so amazing throughout the entire process answering questions and talking me through this terrifying experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But still, it was cancer and Spiessbach has a medical background. She knew the risks. One that loomed large was the possibility she would need an emergency C-section during surgery. A fetus reacts similarly to anesthesia so she would need to be monitored closely. Granadillo also prescribed steroids prior to surgery to strengthen the baby\u2019s lungs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_39041\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39041\" style=\"width: 201px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-39041 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150026\/Johnson.jpgtiny.webp\" alt=\"Dr. Tracy Johnson, part of Anna's health care team at UCHealth.\" width=\"201\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150026\/Johnson.jpgtiny.webp 201w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150026\/Johnson.jpgtiny-120x150.webp 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-39041\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Physician assistant Tracy Johnson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cHer mind was going a mile a minute,\u201d said Granadillo. \u201cShe was worrying about her baby more than herself and it was stressful for her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s rare, too, to perform the surgery on pregnant women. When it is done, it\u2019s often a simple procedure like an appendectomy. When it came time for Spiessbach\u2019s surgery, the team didn\u2019t take any chances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe number of people in the operating room added a little spice to the day,\u201d said Oliver who was joined by labor and delivery nurses and an obstetric hospitalist who monitored the baby and stood ready with an incubator just in case. Oliver successfully removed the cancerous cells, about one-third of her tongue, along with 42 lymph nodes in her neck to reduce the risk cancer would return.<\/p>\n<p>When Spiessbach woke up from surgery, her first thought was for her baby.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe nurses smiled and said she was still in,\u201d said Spiessbach, who sported a new accessory\u2014a wicked 22-centimeter stapled scar running from the back of her ear, down her neck and curving under her chin.<\/p>\n<p>Spiessbach soon went home with Vern, who she calls her \u201cabsolute rock\u201d to recover from surgery. She returned June 18 to HRH where Granadillo delivered a healthy, beautiful 7-pound, 9-ounce\u00a0girl named Rylie.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Family: Dealing with a diagnosis of tongue cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_39042\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39042\" style=\"width: 183px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-39042 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150124\/Lanning.jpgtiny.webp\" alt=\"Dr. Ryan Lanning radiation oncologist that helped Anna her through a diagnosis of tongue cancer.\" width=\"183\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150124\/Lanning.jpgtiny.webp 183w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150124\/Lanning.jpgtiny-100x150.webp 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-39042\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Ryan Lanning, radiation oncologist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lanning was anxious to begin radiation treatment. But as a father himself, he knew those first weeks of life were precious.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wanted them to have uninterrupted time with the baby,\u201d said Lanning. About a month later, he started Spiessbach on 30 sessions of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) radiation. Using a linear accelerator, VMAT delivers a highly targeted and effective dose of radiation on the cancerous tissue while sparing healthy tissue.<\/p>\n<p>The side effects from the chemotherapy she was also receiving weren\u2019t bad, Spiessbach said, but radiation was a different story.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRadiation can be challenging,\u201d said Lanning. &#8220;With advanced planning and the VMAT, we are able to spare the healthy tissue to reduce long term side effects.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the gift that keeps on giving,\u201d said Spiessbach. She endured painful mouth lesions, deep fatigue, soreness, nausea, loss of taste and dry mouth and hours of occupational, physical and speech therapy to help her learn to talk, swallow and chew again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnna was a trooper,\u201d said Lanning. &#8220;She&#8217;s recovered so well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_39043\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39043\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-39043 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150218\/Granadillo.jpgtiny.webp\" alt=\"Dr. Ann Granadillo, part of Anna's health care team helping her through a diagnosis of tongue cancer.\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150218\/Granadillo.jpgtiny.webp 225w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150218\/Granadillo.jpgtiny-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/13150218\/Granadillo.jpgtiny-200x200.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-39043\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Ann Granadillo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Spiessbach gives credit to someone else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRylie was the best cheerleader,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Almost a year old, Rylie is all rolls, cheeks, bright eyes and dark, wispy hair. She\u2019s endless smiles and poops, funny noises and milestones that Spiessbach and her husband experience together.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been almost a year since the cancer diagnosis. Rehab is ongoing but Spiessbach hopes to return to work in the ED soon. The scar is fading and Spiessbach can read to Rylie whenever she wants. Her voice is strong and steady, with just a hint of a lisp \u2026 but Rylie doesn\u2019t seem to mind.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At 31 weeks pregnant, Anna Spiessbach and her husband Vernon Vavra were ready for their baby\u2019s arrival. The nursery was nearly complete. The car seat installed. Diapers, impossibly tiny pink shoes and soft, delicate onesies were neatly organized. The two of them should have been nesting together at home counting the minutes until their daughter [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":39033,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[28,9081,191],"class_list":["post-39031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-cancer-care-oncology","tag-head-and-neck-cancer-treatment","tag-radiation-oncology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pregnant and a diagnosis of tongue cancer - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At 31 weeks pregnant, Anna Spiessbach and her husband Vernon Vavra were ready for their baby\u2019s arrival. 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