thanks Gabe and everyone else. In response to David- the dysplasia was upgraded to cancer following excision and SCC 'foci' were discovered, so as I said very early. An MRI and cat scan showed necrosis in two lymph nodes but fine needle aspiration biopsy was negative. I haven't been offered a PET scan but from my reading here on the forum, I am going to ask for a PET scan before any decision is made re dissection. Does lymph node necrosis always mean cancer?

I am being treated in the public system at a major hospital in a specialist head/neck cancer clinic so there are several docs in a team mananging my treatment. The don't all agree that I should have the lymph nodes removed but they all agree I should have further surgery on my tongue as there a more white bits further back that were not taken out the first time.