Doctor passes her doctorate after NHS fits her with Britain's first bespoke artificial tongue

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026.

Dr Imogen Brooks, 30, an assistant medical writer from Newham in east London, had most of her tongue removed at 26 after being diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, then lost further tissue when radiotherapy shrank what remained. Specialists at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust spent months building a custom cobalt-chrome frame clipped to her lower teeth, supporting a silicone tongue moulded specifically to her mouth. She described assembling the team as "like assembling the Avengers" — and eight clinicians turned up to her next appointment ready to try.

Before the prosthetic, strangers looked at her "in fear" and colleagues refused to speak to her face-to-face.

Dental technician Michael Brown said the team had "never made something like this before" but relished the challenge.

The artificial tongue has since helped Dr Brooks pass her doctorate exam and reconnect with her grandmother.