Kat,

For what it's worth, this is just an opinion from the mother of a 29 year old non-survivor.....
My daughter, Heather also had a good prognosis based on the CT scan and palpation results. Her tumor was on the base of the tongue, which maybe is a bit more aggressive than on the lateral tongue, but on the tongue anywhere is generally more aggressive than elsewhere, i.e. the tonsils.

Based on his palpation done before the surgery, the doctor thought she was probably at stage 2. Her pre-surgery CT scan didn't show the tumor or any positive nodes. Her surgery went well, showing clear margins and several "good" signs that hers was not "out of control", to put it simply. To make a long story short, the CT scan and palpation were VERY unreliable and although she did have a full course of radiation after her surgery, she still did not survive.

This is not said to scare you, but to make you aware that a CT scan and palpation are not always accurate. It would be wise for you to have a neck dissection. Or, as Gary said, get your records looked at by a specialist, at the very least. I am sorry I can't help you when it comes to the insurance side of it, but if you can somehow get a referral approved to a major cancer center, it would be for the best. Just to be sure.

Wishing you the best,
Rosie