Financial assistance at a hospital will go strictly by her specific monthly income. Usually the hospitals are slightly easier to get qualified for. Please do not let finances decide her treatment. If necessary, make payment arrangements to pay something monthly on the bill. Can you make appointments to see a team of oncologists at MD Anderson before she gets approved? It would be quicker to get her scheduled for the appointment while you are waiting.

Im glad to see your mother is going to be going to a major cancer center like MD Anderson. Im going to assume your mother has been given a biopsy to determine that she has SCC. The staging will be determined with a combo of the size of the tumor, if it has spread, and a PET or CT scan.

Your mother should be on some type of pain meds if she hurts. Call the doc and ask for something to give her. Maybe the fentanyl patch since she has trouble eating/swallowing. This is an easy way to get the pain under control quickly. It will take up to 24 hours for it to kick in but then you only have to change it every 3 days. I would think she would start off low with 25 or 50mgs. That is just a good guess. Im not a medical professional but have seen hundreds of patients go thru treatment for oral cancer.

Dont be surprised if your mother would get a feeding tube. If she is already having trouble eating, it would be a tool that will help to get her proper nutrition, calories and hydration. Make sure she drinks even though it may be difficult. It would be a good idea to pick up some boost or ensure to give her. Right now she needs to try to up her calories to aprox 2500 daily and a minimum of 48 oz of water. She will feel alot better if those minimums are met daily.

Best wishes with everything!!!