Hi there.. Food and healing? Well I'm a vegetarian so suggesting meat is not something I'll ever do, but protein is best for healing so my advice is to boost proteins and to do so without having to consume meat - which at this point may be a little difficult anyway - is to pick up a high quality protein shake and make a smoothie once or twice a day, add fresh fruit, flax, maybe some quinoa, and milk of your choice (I make almond at home so I use that ) but you can use regular, flax, hemp, almond, rice, soy, or kamut milks - all are high in protein. Don't add extra sugar - complex carbs are best for healing - that's fruit etc.. And stick to semi solid foods - I found mashed foods more difficult to eat and control than say - a soft omelet, or soft veggies, or pasta, Mac and cheese (for me it was vegan) . The drs were right - rads first for this type of cancer is usually reserved for super large tumors that would really effect quality of life, or cause major debilitation etc..(even then when I comes to saving a life and better survival rate they'll still suggest the surgery etc) The first line of defense with oral cancer of the tongue, (oral tongue not base of tongue) gums, cheek, mandible, palate, is usually surgery as it tends to be a more agressive cancer than HPV+ cancers of the base if tongue, and tonsil. Hoping your nodes all come out negative. but do watch carefully if they don't offer you rads or chemo, this is a mistake they often make in thinking your clear go home, they've got it all - only to find later its back. rads is no guarantee but it does cut the chance of recurrence in half.

That said keep your mouth as clean as possible rinsing etc...after very meal, this too will promote healing, and be gentle! Hugs!