Thank you very much for your kind advice, everyone. I am trying to get more information about David's condition and offer whatever help I can to David and his family. His and their burdens are just so great right now. Doing some of the research and options legwork are small ways that I feel like I am doing something. Noting makes one feel quite so powerless as knowing that someone is suffering and not being able to stop it.

Friend and colleague of amazing person diagnosed with oral cancer 3 years ago (tongue). Had recurrence in January 2011, was readmitted to hopsital where he was diagnosed as Stage IV, metastasis to the lung. Tumor in lungs declared "possibly operable" but dicey by specialists at Sloan Kettering.