Hi Barb, I will try to make this short. Early in December 2001, I felt my tongue cutting into a tooth in the back left side, went to my dentist who filed the tooth down, no improvement, put me on antibiotics in Feb. 2002, no change, sent me to oral surgeon in April 2002, did biopsy, came back negative for cancer, the sore got angrier and uglier, my dentist then referred me to another oral surgeon at the University of Md. Hospital, that was May 10th, he took one look at it and told me it was squamous cell carcinoma and had to come out. He operated May 28 2002, took about 1/2 of my tongue, replaced with arm flap, also did neck dissection, two lymph nodes positive for c, had 35 radiation treatments. I was 44 at time of diagnosis, non smoker, altho I had smoked for several years in my early 20's. Anything I can do to help, just let me know. Thanks, Carol