A woman who had her tongue removed to fight cancer now has a new one made from her arm.

Grandmother-of-four Joanna Smith, 58, is a non-smoker but was diagnosed with tongue cancer after she spotted a tiny 'ulcer' in her mouth.

She was given eight months to live unless she had it removed, so underwent 15 hours of surgery.

Medics took out her tongue via a hole in her neck and made a new one using skin, muscle and a long vein from her left arm.

The cleaner, from Clapham, Bedfordshire, was able to talk as soon as she woke up and can now eat and drink on her own.

The footage was captured yesterday (February 17).

A woman who had her tongue removed to fight cancer now has a new one - made from her ARM. Grandmother-of-four Joanna Smith, 58, is a non-smoker but was diagnosed with tongue cancer after she spotted a tiny 'ulcer' in her mouth. She was given eight months to live unless she had it removed, so underwent 15 hours of surgery. Medics took out her tongue via a hole in her neck and made a new one using skin, muscle and a long vein from her left arm. The cleaner, from Clapham, Bedfordshire, was able to talk as soon as she woke up and can now eat and drink on her own.