Hello everyone! I am new to this site, I found it while surfing the net for topics relating to Oral Cancer. I thought this would be a great place to read what others are going through and how they are coping with their cancer.

I am here as a supporter for my boyfriend who I have been dating for eight years, and just recently he has been diagnosed with Oral cancer. Unfortunetly, it started on his tongue and spread down to his lymph nodes very quickly. I never knew anyone with cancer before, so I am just feeling afraid for him, I wish I could take his pain away.

October 31, 2006 is the day when he underwent surgery to remove the cancer on his tongue, lymph nodes and under his chin. 98% of his tongue was removed, and tissue from his thigh and wrist were used to reconstruct his tongue. After meeting with the surgeon, his concern was that my boyfriend may not be able to swallow again, and that using a tube to feed him would be what he might have to do for the rest of his life.

The next step is recovery, radiation and chemotheraphy. I just want to hear one thing positive, with him being 24 years old, everything has been going so quickly, and everyting feels so scary. If anyone out there has been through this, please tell me what I can do to help or if you know anything positive, please share with me.

His birthday is next week, he will be turing 25 - we are all hoping for something good to happen.

Thanks for reading this, hope to hear from someone soon.