Many options to do - unfortunately surgery for most tongue cancers is the best chance for a cure. This kind of cancer can be very aggressive and spreads like wildfire. It certainly is a tough choice to make ! .....but it may be different with your pathology and because it is base of tongue. Good that you are getting lots of opinions- just with what you feel is the best option for you

You will have people to work with on speaking and eating. It will be compromised but you will be able to gain things back- how much or how little depends upon how the surgery goes and how your rehabilitation goes an dhow much effort you personally want to put into it. Some people have all the desire there but for whatever reason the recovery from the surgery and treatments didn't go as well- and other could have had more success if they had just tried more and not gotten discouraged. Most glossectomy patients are at least able to eat a soft diet and become fairly intelligible with thier speech... and that is sure much better than the alternative.

Thinking of you Walt and hoping you have the very best outcome possible whatever path you choose!