After reading a lot of the posts on this forum, I realize that they acted very quickly with me. I was diagnosed with stage IV tongue cancer with lymph node involvement on May 11, 2009 and I had my partial glossectomy and neck dissection on May 20, so they didn't mess around with me. It does sound as if you are waiting a while, but I am not qualified to judge, either.

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.