Morgan44,

[quote=morgan44]The tumor is about the size of a nickel at the base (left side, toward the back...), and there is no lymph node involvement. I had a slight swelling of the left lymph node ..., that swelling (which was minor in the first place) has now disappeared... [/quote]
"Watchful Waiting", as a strategy for dealing with oral cancer, is based on the hopeful assumption that you are "CANCER-FREE".

YOU ARE NOT "CANCER-FREE"!

"The tumor is about the size of a nickel...(left side, toward the back...)." This tumor must be treated or you will indeed die a horrible death! This is not a small tumor! It will not disappear or go away! Surgery, Radiation and/or Chemotherapy ARE in your future... the sooner you get with it the better.

If you do have a "death wish", please find a more pleasant way to die!

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So you are "PAIN-FREE"! Wonderful! [quote=morgan44]Finally, the combination of MethylPREDNIsOLONE (steroid), 4 mg X 2, and Tramadol-Acetaminophen/37.5-325 also twice a day, has all but eliminated the pain... [/quote]Did you stop to think the pain meds are doing this and the tumor is still there? PAIN tells us that something is not right with the body. Wouldn't it hurt if you stop the pain medications?

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Click the following link to read page 3 of a thread started by wife and caregiver("JulieKay") about her husband Rich, who DIED FROM UNTREATED ORAL CANCER.

Richs Plea

Rich did not stop smoking and was not healthy enough to survive treatment. Scroll down this topic until you find a post from "debandbill" (Sat Jan 03 2009) that gives you a clickable link to Rich's Website.

This is is what death from OC looks like.

Note to forum readers: This is a graphic website, so don't go there if you don't really want to know. This is why I did not post the actual "shortcut" to the website.

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[quote=morgan44]Since I've gone several days now with "no serious symptoms" reappearing or becoming worse, call me a procrastinator, but I've also never been known to jump right into strange bodies of water before I've tested it for what may lie beneath!
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IF YOU WANT TO LIVE, you are going to have to make this swim. It won't be easy, and you will be swimming for your LIFE!

I know this sound harsh. We all are scared by this nasty cancer! It is terrible beyond belief. But you have choices to make. Keep in mind when you weigh your options that this is indeed a LIFE OR DEATH decision!

"Wondering if it's worth it?"

Your Call!

The wonderful folks on these forums will be here to support you no matter what you do. This is your new OCF FAMILY!

PS: I think 70 is young!