Welcome to the forum. I’m sorry that you have had bad news, we will put in our best effort to help you through your treatment.

HPV positive SSC responds better to treatment. It is an STD although smoking and drinking are contributing factors. The symptoms of base of tongue SSC are often not obvious and many people miss the signs. My husband had a bad case of mouth ulcers which his ENT treated with antibiotics only to have the ulcers come back half a year later. At that point, the ENT said it could be cancer and it was only his second case of oral cancer in his many years of practicing as an ENT. This is the reason why ChristineB always suggests to people to find a doctor who knows about oral cancer and not just a family ENT.

You will likely find out if you will get a feeding tube when you get your treatment plan. Doctors don’t often operate for base of tongue cancer because the area is hard to reach. They may decide to zap the lymph nodes with radiation.

If you have questions, make sure you write them down and ask your doctor at your next visit. I am all for patients advocating for themselves. At this point, before your treatment starts, you may want to eat all your favorite foods. It will be a while before you can do that once treatment begins, what with mouth sores and taste changes.

Do come back and post often. We are not medical practitioners. We are a group of former patients and caregivers, and we can share the knowledge we have gleaned from our personal cancer journeys. Wishing you all the very best.