Welcome to OCF, Steve. You will find lots of helpful info and support here to help your brother and entire family. Your brother is lucky to have you by his side thru this. We will help you all.

Oral cancer and its treatments can be a long road. Im glad your brother was seen and diagnosed quickly when the pain started getting bad. Im not making excuses but not all ENT's are specialists in oral cancer. Better to look forward than trying to understand why the previous doc didnt diagnose him. All water under the bridge now.

If your brother is able to eat he should try to have all his favorite foods now prior to any radiation treatments. His sense of taste and swallowing will change. Better to go into this without any cravings. During treatment and for at least the first year afterwards, he will need a minimum of 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water every single day. This is the one thing patients have control over but most will struggle with. I know it sounds like alot. His body is going thru so much fighting the cancer and trying to rebuild itself from the surgery he burns up calories and an incredible rate.

He will also want to see his dentist to have a thorough check up and flouride trays made. If he has any cavities or teeth that are questionable those should get taken care of now. A full blood panel including thyroid and testosterone will need to get done first too.

It takes a village to get someone thru OC treatments and recovery. It would be a good idea if your brother or someone in his household joined our group too. Anyone who offers to help them should get told they will get notified later when the time comes. Take down their contact info in a little address book specifically for this. Not everyone is lucky enough to have the same friends still standing by their side when everything is over so your support Im sure is much appreciated.

Best wishes!