Tinalise: I am so sorry about your mother. Life really isn't fair! Clearly, cancer doesn't discriminate between Christians and non Christians. Anyone can get it. Also, there are obviously several likely causes (papilloma virus is another suspect, in addition to smoking & alcohol). Your mother will probably deal better with her treatment because she is in better health than many oral cancer patients since she hasn't smoked or drunk. Life style choices may not prevent someone from getting cancer but it can help them survive it.

I cannot answer your questions, but I can suggest that you should take your mom to a comprehensive cancer center. Hopefully, she is already being seen at one. They see more oral cancers and are probably more accurate with staging. My brother, who had tongue cancer, also had a very optimistic primary care physician and I believe his stage was changed by subsequent doctors.

Finally, I think doctors like to be as optimistic as possible, especially when dealing w/a saint , so don't be surprised if the opinions change. Oral cancer is a tough foe. The best thing you can do to help your mother right now is to get her to a comprehensive cancer center and also make sure someone goes with her to every appointment. I wish you luck! - Candace