 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Hi Frank, I wish I had an easy answer for you. Unfortunately this difficult decision is up to you. Most importantly is to be treated at a cancer center. There you will have a whole team of specialists who will discuss your case. You will want to be seen at a facility that is familiar with oral cancer. Avoid a place that sees one OC patient every couple months. You want a place that sees many oral cancer patients. Dont let distance choose your fate, sometimes the best places are close. Sometimes you need to travel for the right treatment for you. Everyone responds to medications, treatments, surgeries in their own individual way. If you are not comfortable with the treatment options or the doctors, go for another opinion. Surgeons cut, thats what they do and thats what they will recommend. Whichever way you decide, I wish you well.
Right now you will want to eat all your favorites, heck with the calories. In some way your eating will be affected for a while so you will want to enjoy everything you can now.
Best of luck to you with your decision.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
