Howard,

We live in the Los Angeles area also. My mom has been seeing an ENT for her luekeplakia for the past 10 years then in April 03 it came up SCC right side of tongue and mouth stage 1. My mom had a similar surgery with no PEG tube. It was really tough to see her with the traik but it wasn't that bad for her. She stayed in the hospital for 7 days and they closed the traik on the 5th day. She could talk but she was pretty hoarse and with her tongue so different it took a few weeks to get her speech back. She still lisps a little but I can understand everything she says. My moms ENT did not do radiation with the first surgery back in April 03 he said the same as what they are telling you. Save it for a recurrance....(I wish we would have done more research back then) she had a recurrance in November and after more surgery this time with a graph from her leg she is just now finishing up the 6 weeks radiation and 2 chemo sessions.

I would definately get a second opinion regarding the radiation. Her lukeplakia recurred after each removal and so did the cancer..... Just a suggestion from somebody whos experience is kind of similar....

I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Danielle