Hi Elizabeth - Welcome to the family, though I'm sure you would just as soon not be a member. We weren't too thrilled to become members either, but it is what it is.

CCC stands for comprehensive cancer centers. There are about 20 in the United States and they are the best at what they do. They have the best doctors, the ones with the most experience. One of the earlier posts on this thread had a link to the list of CCC's in the U.S.

I know you already have a lot going on in the way of quality of life issues. I would be lying if I said oral cancer treatment was easy; it isn't. For some it's harder than others. My treatment was actually pretty easy, but everyone's isn't. This cancer is very survivable; it's worth the inconvenience and discomfort of treatment and recovery that you will face.

Good luck with all this, we will be here for you every step of the way.

Tony

Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)

09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good