Hello! Ok so I have a cluster of painful lumps that are on the left side of my tongue along with a patch of white. Just seen an ENT for this and he's pretty concerned. Biopsy is scheduled which is where my questions start.

I know I may be jumping the gun here but I am the type to BE PREPARED. I've been reading on here and already found a cancer center in my area (per advice here to use a center for treatment.) Is there any other advice that I need to heed? Again, I realize I am EARLY since I don't have a dx but I've been reading for hours and hours and I have several of the symptoms of the cancerous tumors such as ear pain on just the left side, sore jaw, swollen lymph nodes, overall tongue pain and the fact of the alarm on my ENT's face and his comment that I'm too young to be having to 'deal with this.'

I am sooo concerned with the costs involved. I am a single mom of 3 and have just enough money to pay bills every month and THATS IT. I don't know how people can afford to be off work to deal with cancer! I have nothing to sell to create a sort of nest egg so that's out.

Also, today is my 40th birthday! Cake and cancer on my mind today! That's normal right?? Lol

Laura Age 40
Tongue lesion on left side grew and was hurting in mid-August
Dx as squamous cell carcinoma on 9.18.18
Left Neck Dissection and tongue surgery, lost a fourth of my tongue on 10.1.18, tumor had grown to a T3
Margins were clear except front section of tongue margin had three stray cancer cells that were not in the tumor
Additional surgery 10.18.18 to remove another cm near where the stray cells were found
33 radiation treatments from Nov 2018 through Jan 2019