One more thing -- once you get a diagnosis and treatment plan from Eastern VA, get a second opinion from one of the NCI-designated cancer centers (UVa or VCU), just to be on the safe side. (You may be closer to Duke, in North Carolina, but I don't know what its policies are about seeing out-of-state patients without insurance. You could always call and check.)

Here's information from the main site about the importance of a second opinion .

Leslie

April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.