'The tattoo from my arm is now on my tongue following cancer treatment'

A 21-year-old woman has found that a tattoo from her arm was transferred to her tongue during reconstructive surgery after a cancer diagnosis, describing it as a "fun story to tell on a date."

Harriet Trewhitt, an acting student from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, discovered a painful ulcer on her tongue earlier this year. Initially, she assumed it was caused by biting her tongue during an epileptic seizure, but a biopsy revealed stage two squamous cell carcinoma.

"They removed half of my tongue and reconstructed it using skin and blood vessels from my arm," Harriet explained. "It was surreal to see, but also kind of funny. I wasn't laughing when I saw the state of my arm, though," she added.

After receiving her diagnosis a month post-biopsy, Harriet requested a brief delay in treatment to complete her drama course at LMA Drama School, which the medical team approved. Her first operation took place five days after graduation, during which extensive tests ensured she could safely undergo anesthesia.

Harriet underwent a six-hour surgery at University College London Hospital. Surgeons removed the cancer and rebuilt her tongue using skin from her arm, including a small semicolon tattoo. "I tried to stay positive and use humor to cope with everything," she said.

Two days after the initial surgery, complications required emergency reconstruction to reconnect blood vessels and repair damaged lymph nodes. Following recovery, Harriet had to relearn basic functions like speaking and swallowing, before beginning proton beam therapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchestera targeted radiotherapy that uses protons rather than X-rays.

"The treatment was intense. I wore a custom mask attached to a machine that moved around me during each session," she recalled. Harriet also paused treatment for her graduation, celebrating despite the ongoing pain and fatigue.

Now back home, she plans to start a master's degree in drama therapy at Derby University in 2026. "Im much better, though I still have a slight lisp and significant fatigue. Even though surgery was in August, it doesnt feel that long ago," she said.

Harriet's experience highlights the challenges of cancer treatment and recovery, combining resilience, humor, and determination to continue her studies and life goals.

Author: Maya Henderson