Welcome to OCF, Mary! Im very happy to see you here You have found the very best online group devoted to helping OC (oral cancer) patients and caregivers.

Another opinion from a top notch ENT who treats many oral cancer patients and is completely seperate from any physicians you have already seen would be the very best choice for a third opinion. The doc who gave you all the worst case scenarios of side effects gave you your second opinion. I find all those possible side effects to be a bit extreme! Surgeons cut and will always recommend surgery. Once its been removed it cant be put back or ever returned to exactly how things were before the surgery. Ive seen hundreds post here about similar concerns with a neck dissection.

A neck dissection can cause mobility issues with your arm but I have not ever heard of anyone who completely lost use of their arm like what you described. What we usually see is patients who can only lift their neck dissection side arm up to about where the elbow is shoulder height. Im not understanding if your first surgery had clear margins the need to remove more of your tongue. Im also not following if you were successfully treated for SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) why you would have 80% chance of survival by having the surgery and without it not a good chance??? Sounds to me like that appointment brought you much confusion and concerns about the need for further treatment when the original surgery was a success. Im right there with you in being confused at why that ENT is pushing for additional, more invasive surgery when your first doc got clear margins. I know quite a few here have been thru multiple surgeries for tumors on their tongues. Hopefully they will weigh in soon.

Best wishes with everything!!!

PS.. Im sending you a private message or 2 so please watch for and click on the tiny flashing envelope next to your "My Stuff" tab above.