Thank you everyone for all the encouragement. I am not looking forward to tomorrow, but it is a real source of strength to know that there are many people here in Bellingham, Seattle and Anacortes that deeply care about the outcome, and now I know that a bunch of concerned and compassionate people from all over the world who participate on this board and have experienced this cancer will have Eric in their thoughts tomorrow. Thank you.

I do have one question. We are in a cancer center called a "multi-disciplinary" center, is there usually one point ot contact for information, reports, etc., or do we need to gather information from all the different Doctors and compile it ourselves? Brian suggested I get the Cancer Patients Workbook to keep notes, I ordered it from Amazon but it is backordered. (Unfortunately too many people need the book). I want to make sure that over the next few days I get the information Eric needs to make his coming decisions.

From reading this board I am expecting that a likely outcome is he will have surgery, and if the 2nd surgery isn't required he will start radiation (hopefully IMRT which they have here) within 3 - 4 weeks. Chemo is still a possibility. I am assuming that when they remove the matasticized lumph node during the neck dissection that they will take other lymph nodes to determine the extent of the cancer.

Anybody know any other questions I should be asking? Any other information that we need to gather so he can make the best decisions regarding radiation and possible chemo?

I am bringing my laptop to Seattle so I hope to post something Tuesday night regarding the outcome of the surgery. Writing is therapeutic for me and having feedback makes it like a living journal.... thanks again for your thoughts, prayers and hopes for a successful surgery tomorrow. Having you here makes this easier and gives me a place to find hope and experience. Thanks.

Jack