Hi there... okay one thin I have noticed that someone else doesn't appear to have commented on. Your description. Is it a visible lesion? You said right side base of tongue. If it is visible to your eyes, or in other words on his ORAL TONGUE. Then it is not base of tongue. Some people make the mistake of thinking if it is under the tongue at the back it is the tongue base. What people don't realize is that the tongue is super long and runs down the back of the throat. True base of tongue cancer (HPV+ - usually) is only visible with a scope.

I make this distinction because with the other kind of tongue cancer - oral tongue - surgery is the first treatment option. HPV responds well to radiation and chemo, therefore surgery isn't often offered first. But Oral tongue cancer can be more aggressive and usually requires surgery first and then often rads and chemo as a secondary safety measure.

Usually the time from dx- treatment I find is 4-6 weeks. And staging aside time is always of the essence... hugs and best of luck. Clarify what kind of cancer he has and then move on from there. If you are being treated at a ccc that's a very good start. hugs.