After Successful Oral Cancer Treatment, Detroit Resident Finds Her Voice to Inspire Others

Patient Story: Lisa Gittens

A deeply religious woman, Lisa Gittens has long centered her life on faith, family, and service. Married and the mother of four, with a third grandchild on the way, she draws daily strength from her growing family and her belief in helping others. Professionally, Lisa works as a client liaison in the financial services industry, where she has built a career rooted in advocacy and support. Beyond her work, she devotes countless hours to ministry—using her voice through song and her compassion through outreach to support individuals in the prison system, offering encouragement, faith-based guidance, and hope to those facing their own hardships.

“I met my husband Leroy in church and we are active members of the Lamb Christian Church in Warren, Michigan, where I am part of the prayer team,” Lisa says. “I do most of my singing at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Washtenaw County. They look forward to seeing us come, and they're so receptive. I don't ask them what they've done. They're there for a reason. I'm just there to offer them encouragement and hope.”

A mouth sore leads to lifechanging diagnosis

Living most of her life with no major health issues other than being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and type 1 diabetes as an adult, Lisa’s life as she knew it would change in 2020 with a mouth sore that wouldn’t go away.

At first, she thought it was due to a cold, but the sore got progressively worse. “I felt it under my mouth, and when it continued to grow, my daughter convinced me that I should have it checked out,” she remembers.

Lisa went to her Henry Ford primary care physician Anupama Nair, M.D., who referred her to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for an evaluation. A biopsy revealed oral cancer.

“On the one hand, I couldn’t believe the diagnosis since I am not a smoker or drinker,” says Lisa. “At the same time, I had a bad feeling after the biopsy that the news would not be good,” she reveals.

Steven Chang, M.D., chair, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Henry Ford Health and Peter D. and Julie F. Cummings Endowed Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery, who managed Lisa’s oral cancer treatment, explains that while oral cancer is less common in non-smokers and non-drinkers, it can affect anyone regardless of lifestyle.

“While tobacco and alcohol remain major risk factors, the reality is that nearly one in four oral cancer cases occurs in people who have never smoked or consumed alcohol. That’s why it’s so important not to dismiss early warning signs,” he says. These warning signs, according to Dr. Chang, include a mouth sore that doesn’t heal, a persistent lump, or unexplained pain inside the mouth. “Early evaluation can make all the difference—oral cancer is far more treatable when caught at its earliest stages.”

Leaning on faith, family and a comprehensive care team

Throughout her cancer journey, Lisa relied deeply on her faith, drawing strength through prayer and spiritual reflection. She was also supported every step of the way by her husband of 37 years and her children, who helped carry her through some of the most challenging moments of treatment and recovery.

At Henry Ford Health, Lisa’s care was guided by a multidisciplinary team that included specialists in dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, as well as nutritionists and speech therapists who addressed not only the cancer itself but the long-term effects on her quality of life.

Her treatment required the removal of six lower teeth, followed by partial dentures to restore function and appearance. She also underwent several weeks of radiation therapy. In addition, Lisa participated in a research study involving lymphatic drainage that helped reduce facial swelling and tingling after surgery.

“I cried and prayed. The partial dentures felt very foreign to me, and I lost my voice during treatment,” she says. “As thankful as I was that this treatment was potentially lifesaving, I wondered if I would ever have my singing voice back.”

Dr. Chang expresses that after treatment, it took Lisa several months to gradually regain her “voice,” and that journey required far more than medical therapy alone. “Recovering from head and neck cancer is a team effort and having a comprehensive group in place: speech language pathologists, nutrition experts, dentistry, oral maxillofacial surgery, nursing, physical therapy and psychologists, ensures that patients can rebuild strength and return to the life they love.”

Research plays an important role in guiding care

Dr. Chang notes that Lisa participated in the NRG-HN006 Phase II/III clinical trial offered at Henry Ford health to determine whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, a less invasive surgery that removes only the lymph nodes most likely to harbor cancer, leads to better neck and shoulder function and quality of life at six months compared to elective neck dissection (END) for patients with early‑stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. “The trial concept originated from Henry Ford Patient Advisory Council supported by Patient Engaged Research Center, a one-of-a-kind organization that harnesses the patient perspective and voice to drive research to improve patient centered care,” explains Dr. Chang.

Lisa notes that after surgery she experienced significant swelling in her head and tingling in her neck. “My head felt like it was twice the normal size and I felt like a bobblehead,” she remembers. Part of her treatment included The Flexitouch Plus system which can help head and neck cancer patients reduce chronic swelling (lymphedema) by using advanced, programmed pneumatic compression to mimic manual lymphatic drainage. “It reduced the swelling significantly which helped me sleep better. I only use it occasionally now,” she notes.

Book highlights Lisa’s oral cancer journey

A few years after her oral cancer diagnosis, Lisa has truly found her voice again—both literally and figuratively. She continues to sing, minister and serve others, including those she supports through prison outreach, where she draws from her own experience to offer compassion and hope.

Her story is also one of 13 featured in the book Black Women Surviving Survivorship, which highlights the resilience of women navigating life after cancer.

“I hope my story helps other cancer survivors by sharing the realities of diagnosis and treatment and how my faith, loved ones and care team helped me back on my feet,” she says.

Gratitude, healing and a message of hope

Now with no evidence of oral cancer, Lisa reflects with deep gratitude on the compassion and support she received from her Henry Ford caregivers.

“Words cannot describe the gratitude I have for the whole Henry Ford team,” she says. “From honoring my wish to pray before surgery to providing consistent care and compassion, I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”

As she looks back on the diagnosis that forever changed her life, Lisa continues to lean on faith and a message of perseverance. One quote, often attributed to Henry Ford, remains especially meaningful to her: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” It’s a belief that carried her through treatment and recovery—and one she hopes will inspire others facing their own obstacles.

For further information, visit Oral Cancer at Henry Ford Health.