[quote=Andy Anderson]Hi Theresa!

How big was your first and second tumors? I see you went over a year between the first and second diag! That must have been very disheartening! My doc said the first 12 months are very critical in terms of recurrence.

Thank you all for the support and information. I really can't explain the difference between knowing about cancer, and knowing you have had it. It is monumental! [/quote]

Hi Andy,

I only had the one tumor. Pathology revealed 3.5cm tumor removed; none of the 35 nodes removed were cancerous. I had surgery only, no further treatment. So, I feel very blessed.

It has been over 4 years since my diagnosis and if all is still okay at my next 6 month follow-up appointment in March, I can finally either see my ENT once a year, or not at all. My choice he said. I lean toward seeing him once a year. I like him; I trust him.

Before my diagnosis, I was a bit educated on cancer as my grandmother had cancer twice, my mother once, so I thought if I got cancer, it would be breast or ovarian, like they had. Now tongue cancer?!? Where'd that come from? Who knows. But, as I said before, I feel lucky/blessed.

Keep healing! It will get better each day.
:-)
Teresa