Hi Josh!

Welcome to OCF, glad you found us brotha, sorry you had to!

The UAB Birmingham Medical Center is a Comprehensive Cancer Center and is the #1 ranked hospital in Alabama according to the US News and World Report Annual rankings. It's rated high in cancer care and Ear Nose and Throat, while not nationally ranked it's a good facility that should be up on the current protocols of treatment. It should be a good choice for you to get your medical treatment done when and if the cancer is verified.

I too had young children at home (ages 4 and 7 at the time of diagnosis) and can relate to where you are my friend...just take it one step at a time and only deal with what's in front of you, it's when we let our minds wander that we can get overwhelmed and that does nobody any good...so breath. Right now let's try and get the pain under control, work closely with your medical professionals on this. Take this time to eat the foods you love, as much as you want, and spend precious time with your family before the madness starts with treatment..."if" it's cancer which only a biopsy and pathology report will be able to confirm.

Plug into these forums often, we are here for advice and support and we are badass at it so don't hesitate to reach out Josh.

Keep your chin up, breath.

Eric