Sounds a lot like mine.........I went to ENT thinking I had a chronic sinus infection/problem or allergies. Then the whammy STAGE IV with lymphnode involvement. Mushroom shaped growing on a stalk away from tongue. I noticed a kept choking and having trouble swallowing. No wonder....so far down the doctors could not see it until looking with scope! I am now cancer free following TORS, Radiation and Cisplatin. So, you mom may have hope. Removed a very large part of tongue with TORS, still able to speak, swallow, but due to burn from radiation probably too soon after surgery, I have constant throat pain. I have a lesion/spot that has still not healed-7 months out and am looking for a remedy for that. Tell you Mom to hang tough.....