Thanks for the replies. I drove all day yesterday and now am in Chicago with my parents. We go to the ENT today, who has the results of the biopsy done by the oral surgeon last week (after dentist referral) so we will get a more definite diagnosis/staging information. I have looked at the suggested website and fortunately Chicago area has more than one hospital with oncology/head & neck specialty/comprehensive cancer center. If anyone has had experience with: Northwestern U.; U of Chicago; Loyola U.; Fermi National Laboratory at Batavia, IL; or Advocate Lutheran General, I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts. Dad's NHL has been treated at Northwest Community Hospital, which is simply close & convenient. Right now I am disappointed that the tongue cancer diagnosis wasn't observed by the oncologist who has been treating him for for NHL 10 years, the ENT he saw 8 months ago because his ear hurt/sore throat, never paid attention to his complaint about tongue hurting. The PA at the oncology office and the nurse there both told him the tongue discomfort was just from the chemo. Maybe I'm just looking for somebody to blame? Also don't know why the PET scan he had 6 months ago didn't show it? Or the mutliple CTs. Thank God my mother dragged him to the dentist finally! And the dentist paid attention.