Pat - if I were you, I would go for the 3rd opinion, and I would go to either Johns Hopkins or MD Anderson, both the 2 best places in the US (and perhaps the world?) to treat complex oral cancer cases. I went to MD Anderson but seeing where you live, you might want to consider Hopkins.

Ginny M. SCC of Left lateral tongue Dx 04/06,Surgery MDACC 05/11/06: Partial glossectomy with selective neck dissection. T1N0M0 - no radiation. Phase III clinical trial ("EPOC" trial)04/07 thru 04/08 because tests showed a 65% chance of recurrence. 10 Year Survivor!