First of all--thanks to everyone who took the time to reply and tell me of their experiences. I appreciate it so much. I was encouraged by so many of you who relied on their first instincts and that those have served them well! I was also interested to learn about those of you who didn't have such a great experience and exactly why you felt that way. It helps me to understand what I need to think about and why I need to keep my mind open.

For those who wondered what my exact is, it is T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and floor of the mouth. I will have selective lymph node dissection at the time of my partial glossectomy. We will consider radiation (and chemo) based upon what they find from the ND. All of my tests, CT, chest X-Rays and PET scans came back clear, but I realize that doesn't always mean so much.

I found my surgeon by coming to the Eastern Regional Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Not in any way close to my hometown in West Virginia. I thought about going to Johns Hopkins or MD Anderson, both very well-known head and neck cancer treatment centers, but really wanted an approach that took in all of my body (spirit, mind, nutrition, naturopathic) as well as just my mouth. (I've been a vegetarian for 17 years, and never smoked, drank very very little so these things are important to me.) They seemed to fit the bill.

My second thoughts really all center around wondering whether I should have gone to these recognized giants in the field. The treatment I got at CTCA was excellent and the people there took care of me like I was a long-lost relative, and the otolaryngologist they hooked me up with was great, as I have said before. He has super credentials, and is a plastic surgeon, too. So I am confident that he will give me the surgical treatment that I need right now.

I don't think there is any question that I need surgery. The last oral surgeon I saw at home at home did the biopsy, but wasn't able to get clean margins. I had been treated by another group of oral surgeons on several occasions, who had done a biopsy, but even I could tell the last time that they had not treated the entire area. Their advice to me was not to worry about it, that it would never come back to bother me. (This same group of oral surgeons had seen me for lesions in the same area two years earlier with pretty much the same advice.) Anyway, were it not for the diligence and concern of my dentist who called the pathologist herself and talked things over with them, I would not have sought the advice of the last oral surgeon and found myself with the correct diagnosis. It was after a conversation with my dentist about the true nature of that patholgy result that I decided that I really didn't want to go back to the group of oral surgeons who kept pooh-poohing my problems. I insisted on seeing someone new and my dentist was open to referring me to someone else. So, finally, I was sent to the guy who diagnosed me with T1-SCC.

So, I now depend a lot on gut reactions. It is how I found my current OBGYN, my neurologist and my oncologist for my dogs. None of them live in my hometown, all of them are about a six and a half-hour drive. But they have all delivered excellent care, above and beyond what I expected, and I had an instant connection with each and every one of them. So I am hoping that this otolaryngologist and I continue to have the great fit that we had at the start.

I have read some things some of you have written about being treated at a large head and neck center versus being treated at a smaller cancer center. How much different do you think the care is? Do you think it is personalized, attentive care? I have reason to believe that my SCC might be of HPV origin, and so I did think more than twice about going someplace like Johns Hopkins where they are doing so much research on that subject. Has anyone in a similar position been to Johns Hopkins or been able to receive the vaccine that has been in development? I was disappointed to learn that while they have been rated No. 1 in some places at the top head and neck care center, their newsletters in the last year or so didn't mention anything new for folks who are suffering with this problem. A bit disheartening. In the end, it was that kind of thing that made me just decide to go with my first instinct.

Again, thank you for your warm welcome and all the information. It helps so much to know that there are others who have been there. The surgery is just a few days away and I am still a little shaky, but I feel some relief just by your great posts.

RLM