Welcome to OCF! Im sorry you have a need to use our group for your 21 year old son. Im hoping his diagnosis is something much less serious than oral cancer. Without a biopsy being done the ENTs can only give a well educated guess as to what is causing your sons symptoms.

Just remember... surgeons cut, thats what they do and usually recommend. Once its been removed, its not possible to put it back or return 100% functionality. I suggest seeking out an opinion from an ENT who specializes in treating oral cancer patients and preferrably is affiliated with a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). A few of the tops ones are Sloan-Kettering, MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins with a few more across the US. Since this was only just discovered a few weeks ago there is time to get that extra opinion (and biopsy). Then as a family you must select the best team and treatment plan.

Hopefully whatever your son has going on is not cancer. But, if it would be you are in the best place for info and support. Heres a link that goes into more detail about diagnosis, biopsies, etc.

Best wishes!!!


OCF Main Site --- Understanding/Diagnosis