Hi Gina!

I was in a similar situation and your doctor sounds like he knows what he is doing.
Stage doesn't really mean anything in the long run. Many stage 1 and 2 have not survived. Many stage 3 and 4 have.
The odds are really 0% or 100% smile
I wanted to avoid radiation at all costs before the surgery, but when 1 node came back positive, (even though it was removed and encapsulated) the thought of a cancer cell roaming about was too scary, and I have a big fear of anything medical. I didn't want a recurrence. I only had to have rads.
PET scans are notorious for false positives too soon after surgery, so I wouldn't worry about that too much until the surgery is over and the results of your nodes are determined.
But I would for sure go for the rads if any are positive. Chemo is something I didn't have endure.

Oral cancer can be beat. Give it your best shot. Do everything you can to rid yourself of this disease.





Pain late 2009. Dx as change in altitude. Sore spot on tongue late 2010. Dx as irritation.
Leukoplakia Bx Feb 2011 - Lichen Planus.
Bx May 2011 - Hyperplasia. Same sample retested as SCC.
June 2011 Rt Hemigloss,ND,rff,33 Rads. Hosp for 15 days w/bi-lateral pneumonia.
T3N1M0 Stage IV.