FAQs for Mike Pless

Here are some common questions you may have upon hearing of Mike’s complete laryngectomy and full glossectomy:

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History of how Mike got to where he is today:


Mike was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in February of 2020 after significant swelling in his neck lymph nodes.

In April of 2020, Mike began his first round of chemo and radiation at Emory in Atlanta, GA.

This treatment was intended to cure the cancer, but the cancer persisted.

Fast forward to January 2021 (after numerous delays due to Covid) and Mike had his first surgery due to cancer. The surgery was performed by Dr. Kaka. (It was a Radical Bi-lateral Neck Dissection modified w/ Intraclavicular Flap.)

During this four year process, Mike participated in two different immunotherapy trials. Immunotherapy drugs are a fairly new concept for cancer treatment.

The goal with immunotherapy is to boost the body’s existing immune system to help fight the cancer. The body is already fighting the cancer, immunotherapy aids the existing mechanisms.

Both of these immunotherapy trials had mixed results. Neither cured Mike. The first trial, administered in September 2022, did hold off further growth of cancer for a time.

The second immunotherapy, ending May 2023, held off growth too, but Mike was removed from the trial due to the cancer persisting and growing further.

Before long it was December of 2023. The most recent immunotherapy had stopped and scans were showing growth. Also, due to the numerous chemo, radiations, and general fight put up with battling cancer, Mike’s body was not cooperating with even simple IV placements and other medically necessary tasks.

Dr. El-Deiry gave Mike two options in January 2024:

Option 1: allow the disease to progress. Estimated 7-8 months of life, but the final three months will be horrific.

Option 2: do a radical surgery to cure you of cancer. But this will involve the removal of your tongue and larynx. Also, due to radiation, the surgery may not work and you may never recover. You may die in the hospital.

Mike went through with the surgery on February 14, 2024 and is thankfully recovering as well as anyone could have expected.

He gives all credit to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 FAQs

  • Mike had his voice box (larynx) and tonge both completely removed in February 2024.

    Muscle from Mike’s back was used to replace the tissue removed from his neck. A skin graft was used from his leg to cover the neck and new stoma area.

  • Mike can no longer talk. He is also not able to use a TEP device due to having is larynx removed in addition to having his tongue removed.

  • Mike now breathes 100% through a new airway in his throat. The opening in his throat is called a “stoma.” The tube in the stoma is called a “laryngectomy tube” or “lary tube” for short. No air passes through his nose or mouth anymore.

  • Surgeons separated the food pipe and the air pipe in Mike’s neck.

    He now has two dedicated tubes: one for air, one for food.

  • Since June 2023 Mike has had a feeding tube (called a g tube) which goes directly into his stomach from his abdomen.

  • Kind of. Eating by mouth will be liquid only, limited, and by assistance of gravity (tilting the head back to assist in swallowing).

  • Think of an ear ring hole healing. The lary tube will need to stay in more while the wound heals. After the stoma (hole) heals, Mike will be able to take out the tube as needed.