Its hard for everyone to get oral cancer.If you are such a well known person, like MD, its even a bit harder. Why? because you cant keep it a secret. Because cancer is a personal issue, something that really involves those close to you,not the masses or the media. Yet he was gutsy enough to go out there and yes, played a little charade about whats going on with Letterman. But the reality is, Stage IV tongue cancer is extremely dangerous, specially after knowing his tumor is about the size of a nugget. Also, the spread to his limph nodes was not disclosed, and thats also a key factor. My very best wishes to him and his family.