Hi Everyone:

First of all, to Karen-I have been following your story and am thrilled to hear your follow-up scans are clear. Dave is going for his CT in a few weeks and I am scared because I don't do lack of control well but your news is helping today.

To Cindy-welcome and try hard to breathe. As you can see from my message above, fear is real and very overpowering but in can also be a mobilizing force. My fiance, Dave, was diagnosed with tonsil cancer in 9/02 and we are just now emerging from the treatment blur that has been the last several months. Being shocked and overwhelmed is part of the process at the beginning and wanting to be in denial is protective when you feel you and someone you love is suddenly threatened. I am with Brian and the rest of the gang-carry a notebook, ask for repetition, learn to say you didn't get something and ask again(as often as you need to until it makes sense), get as many opinions as you need to feel comfortable with your choices,and remember to "drive your own bus". The folks you will meet will have medical, surgical, and radiation skill, but you and and your husband need to feel most in control of the process and outcome.

The forum here was pivotal for me as a support during Dave's acute treatment phase. You are in the company of very compassionate people who have walked in your shoes.

In answer to one of your technical questions, some oral cancers have a fairly characteristic appearance which raises the index of suspicion for practitioners on exam. A biopsy is the only confirmative diagnostic tool but is usually taken in conjunction with appearance of the lesion(s) and the presence of other risk factors and/or lymph node involvement.

Take it one step at a time...

Best,

Kim