Hi Theresa - I'm so glad you found this place! You will get through this and things will get better!. My son was just about your age when he was diagnosed with SCC (Squamous Cell Cancer) He had surgery and then Radiation. And he is doing just great, now 6 years later! The Radiation is to make sure the cancer does not come back. Everyone is different and some have a much easier time of it than others. The effects of surgery will improve. Right after surgery, my son couldn't talk but used a laptop to communicate and was feeling pretty low and depressed but he was a lot better by the time he started radiation. He didn't have any teeth removed nor did he lose any teeth. Try to think about the good news that your doctor gave you about the path report coming back clear. The thing that got my son into the survival and fight mode is when I reminded him of his then 5-year-old daughter that he had to live for. You have at least 4 wonderful reasons to keep going plus all the other people that love and care about you. Your children will help keep you focused and provide some sweet distraction for you. Use this time to check out the main pages of the Oral Cancer Foundation (See above, top left link) and prepare a list of questions for your doctor or for anyone here. Tell your doctor how you are feeling and he/she may be able to prescribe something to make your feel better about coping with everything. Most people do need some kind of anxiety meds. It really helps to have someone go with you to appointments or Rad Tx so they can help you remember everything the doctors or cancer team tell you about your treatment. So make sure to take care of You - get plenty of nutrition and water so you can be in the best possible shape when you start Rad Tx. Lots of caring and knowledgeable people here will help you through this so check back often and let us know how you are doing.