Welcome to OCF! Im very sorry to read about your sister. Shes lucky to have you in her corner.
Please understand at OCF, we want to help everyone who comes to us with questions. But, we are a group of oral cancer patients/survivors and caregivers. We do NOT have medical backgrounds, years of medical school, clinical patients experience, etc to be able to answer some of your in questions. You always will want to consult a medical professional about whats best for your sister. We can only give you info about things we have been thru ourselves.
As far as comparing tumors, not everyone here knows that sort of info. My doctors never gave me any size info for any of the cancerous tumors they found. In my opinion something thats 1.5 c x 2.8c sounds small but I honestly wouldnt know. As far as her prognosis goes, again thats something to discuss with her doctors. Make sure she gives permission for you to speak to them. Ive seen Stage I patients pass away while Stage IV patients survive sometimes against great odds.
As far as waiting for treatments, the sooner the cancer is eliminated the better. Those types of decisions are completely up to the patient, same goes for which treatment plan is chosen. Without having any sort of medical training or background its best asking how soon treatment should start to her doctors.
Studies have proven patients fare better at Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs). If your sister is able to go to MD Anderson, thats one of the very best cancer centers in the US it should be a very good choice. Some facilities have financial assistance programs to help under or uninsured patients. She will have to ask, those programs do not always get offered to patients unless they specifically ask. Some patients make good use of their waiting time by going for second opinions. It is always a good idea to hear not only what the tumor board says but other places input as well. Unfortunately financial concerns play a part in the patients treatment. Those are very personal choices. Most times waiting a couple weeks will not make much difference, but in a few patients a couple weeks was a huge difference. Like most things, everybody is different so what works for one may not work for another. This goes even with patients who on paper appear identical, they are still individuals with their own unique make up, tolerances, etc.
Im very sorry I wasnt able to better answer your questions. Maybe you would benefit from reading more about oral cancer . Theres a link Ive added to our main site where theres page after page of info about anything and everything to do with oral cancer. In the resources section there is a list of places that may help with financial help. It cant hurt to investigate those sites further. I always say.... you never know, if you dont ask, you dont get. Good luck to you and your sister!!!
Main OCF Site... Understanding section
