Welcome to OCF, Amy! Im sorry to hear of your diagnosis but Im very glad you have found our "family". We will help you with info and support. I suggest reading the forum and main OCF pages to educate yourself. An informed patient is a strong patient who can advocate for themselves.

Believe it or not, your speech may not be that different. You might notice it but most others will not. Getting a speech pathologist on board from the start will greatly help you to overcome and speech difficulties you may have afterwards.

If you havent done so already you should get a second opinion. Preferably from a comprehensive cancer center (CCC). Surgeons always recommend surgery, radiation oncologists always say you need rads, and so on..... But think of it this way, once its been removed you cant put it back. Thats why its so important to hear what a CCC will give for a treatment plan. A CCC has all the specialists on the same page as they get together for team meetings to discuss each case individually. If you must delay surgery by a couple weeks it shouldnt make much of a difference with the tumor growth but it could make a huge difference in what your treatment plan is.

Bottom line.... get the very best medical care you possibly can... your life depends on it.

Best wishes!