Bruce Hyer was told it could be months before he would be able to speak after a surgery on his tongue.
But three days after a two-week stint in the hospital, the independent MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North was asking questions in the House of Commons. Hyer had a tumour on his tongue removed five weeks ago, a process that removed half of one of the most important tools a politician has.
“Basically they took out half my tongue, the left side is normal the right side is gone and then they rebuilt my tongue with a graft from my forearm,” Hyer said Friday afternoon at his constituency office.
“My speech isn’t quite there yet but it’s getting better every day and apparently people can understand me and that’s the most important thing.”
Before the surgery Hyer said he was distracted and worried.
But since the operation, while the pain and swelling were excruciating for a couple of weeks, he’s relieved.
Now that the surgery is behind him, Hyer said it’s only a matter of time before his speech returns to normal.
Right now he said he’s only working half-time, which for Hyer means up to 40 hours a week rather than the 80 or 90 he’s used to.
“As far as I’m concerned, a couple more weeks and I’ll be back to work full-time,” he said.
As for his speech, Hyer said it should be back in about a month or two.
“It seems to be getting better day by day,” he said.
The speedy recovery has pleased Hyer, his doctors and his family. It’s the second time Hyer has had cancer. He was diagnosed with neck cancer in 2009 and made a full recovery. The two diagnoses are unrelated Hyer said.
“My GP tells me I’m the healthiest guy she’s ever met with several cancers,” he said.
