Well, gettin to a CCC is important imho, I think the best advice for anyone having to go through this is to get the absolute best medical advice available to you. It just gives you the best chance of surviving especially late stage as tongue cancers seem to be so aggressive.

Most tx regiment I've read about is chemo/rads concurrently and surgery beforehand unless the tumor(s) are too large and then surgery comes afterward, which was my experience so they could shrink the tumors.

Tell your friend good luck and keep his chin up
Eric