Newsworks shared the story of Leslie Handler, a survivor who had built her career around communications and public speaking — before being diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and having to regain the ability to speak clearly. Handler’s tongue cancer has come back more times than she can count, and each time requires additional surgery, recovery and regaining her speech. 

Handler recently entered a speech contest and explained the experience:

“I wasn’t just preparing for a speech, I was preparing to reclaim my personality. For the first time in my life, it didn't come so easily. I couldn’t wing it like I had in the past. I had to practice, but I delivered. I got up there and nailed it with total clarity, in speech and in purpose.”

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