Thank you all for your responses. My father is 74 years old, but does not have any other health issues besides the cancer. He is not at a CCC. My dad lives in Louisiana and I believe his doctor is affiliated with MD Anderson in Houston, which is a CCC. Not sure if an affiliation is equivalent to actually going to a CCC though. As of now, he doesn't want to do the surgery. He meets with a speech therapist and the surgeon again tomorrow though to learn more about the surgery and post surgical changes.