Well, surgery is a little more sophisticated than slashing.... and laser surgery for oral cancer is not an option. Precancerous leukoplakias can be taken off with a laser, but what you are talking about here will require some structure removal. You may end up with losing a little bit of your tongue (if it is early) and a course of radiation to clean up local mets, possibly adding a neck dissection if you have node involvement. In that case the surgery of the neck will be the lesser of the two evils when it comes to recovery. Keep us informed, and remember to involve several different types of doctors. If all you have is a hammer...everything looks like a nail. It applies to doctors too.