New here...
Mom, 77F had partial glossectomy 28 days ago for tongue SCC stage 1, doc was gonna remove 10% no lymphs, but needed to get 20% out with stitching, then game time decision to get some lymphs on left side out.

Doc said he got it all due to microscopic testing during the surgery, but 3 weeks later at follow up, he said lymph nodes were negative but there was a 3mm area positive microscopic cells using dye near margin. Seems small to me but I know nothing.

My Mom is doing well recovering, but the swelling and not eating much has really wiped her out. So when doc said he would take out another 20% with a forearm flap, trach, nose tube, possibly cut other side of neck for flap artery, 7 days hospital, 3 wks no eating...she just about fainted.

She said there is no way she could make it thru this type of invasion. I believe her bc she isn't the same right now mentally for last week. Very sad and depressed. Absolutely the opposite mentality that you would want to fight the battle.


She was much more open to radiation or proton, but she does not know how hard that could be yet. Going to MD Anderson in 10days for 2nd opinion and see where that leads.

Are there people that are stage 1 that simply refuse the bigger type surgery and do other things, or wait a year to revisit things. Initially I was told Scc is slow spreading, but doc didn't seem thrilled about pushing it off even 3 months.

Thanks