Well, the worst news possible this morning. They started the procedure, the trach went fine, after three hours we thought things were rolling along and then they called and said they had opened up one side of the neck and the cancer has spread to the "chest area" whatever that means. I just came to pick up my daughter and brother to tell them and will be heading back to the hospital. so they did not continue with the surgery and they will give us more details later. now we are going to have to look at the facts...are there alternative therapies? is there anything else that can be done? help please.....jamie