My tumor is so huge, tongue, right jaw, up into my ear canal. I decided against such a major disfiguring and incapacitating surgery with such little chance of cure. I'm at University of Michigan right now, 12 hours post op Laparoscopic J tube placement...I can only open my mouth less than a half inch and only swallow liquids now. I hope to start palliative chemo soon to shrink my tumor. The oncologist here at U/M suggested a clinical trial, but that would entail a 2 hour drive each way, and I dont want to impose on my friends like that, and my father is unable to make that kind of trip weekly.

I know that nobody said life was fair, but this sucks the big Wally. I feel so bad for my father, losing his wife and youngest daughter in less than a year...and now he'll have to watch his only other child suffer a painful and lingering end fairly soon. Yup, the big Wally.