Your situation sounds exactly like my husband's (see my signature, below).

His leukoplakia was completely removed by a local ENT -- since the diagnosis from the oral surgeon's biopsy of two small areas was moderate dysplasia, not cancer, there was no need to seek out a cancer specialist at that point. Once the pathology results of that excisional biopsy showed SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive, my husband had a PET scan to check for any spread and got an appointment with an ENT at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, a top comprehensive cancer center about an hour from our home.

The local ENT (a fine doctor, but not a cancer specialist) was talking neck dissection, radiation, etc. The doctor at Hopkins -- who sees oral cancer all day every day -- determined that no further treatment was necessary. My husband was initially seen at Hopkins every couple of months; as time passed, the interval between appointments lengthened, and now he's checked at Hopkins once a year. His dentist gives him a VELscope exam at each visit as well. Five years later, so far so good, knock on wood.

My word of advice is to get a second opinion from a comprehensive cancer center if you're not being seen at a CCC already -- and if you are at a CCC now, you may want to get a second opinion from another one, especially if your doctor recommends additional surgery and/or radiation. Many here have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles for their second opinion (frequently at M.D. Anderson in Houston or Memorial Sloan-Kettering in NYC, the top two cancer hospitals in the US); if you prefer staying closer to home, the Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of about 20 top cancer centers that together develop and publish the annual state-of-the-art treatment protocols.

Ask any questions that come to mind -- this is a great group for information, advice and support.