Hi Marianne. We are about the same age. I was born in '46. I have a daughter named Mary Ann.

I truly understand how you feel about more surgery. I used to say I think I would rather die than to have to have my jaw removed or who knows what else. And I was sure I would refuse any further surgeries if they proposed it.

But in January, 2011, one year after finishing treatments of chemo and radiation for SCC, I found out I had a different cancer - colon cancer spread to my lungs - and it is NOT curable. All of a sudden I am willing to do any surgery and it's not possible. I have started chemo that, wouldn't you know it, causes mouth sores. I've only had one treatment and I already have sores. So I get the feeling of still having oral cancer plus the terminal cancer just to survive a little longer than without chemo. And I'm doing it. It's amazing how your thinking changes.

Do whatever you need to do to live longer. We're too young to die.