He really should quit the smoking, it will help with the recovery process/prognosis. One thing you will hear a lot is to get 2nd opinions. Surgery should not be a fore gone conclusion. I'm not a Dr and would never pretend to be one so I give advice based on my experience. There are lots of folks around this web site that didn't have surgery, and lots that did, I didn't. I chose radiation with concurrent chemo for my base of tongue cancer. I did have a neck dissection surgery to remove lymphnodes and 1 was positive for SCC. It's a personal choice that your Dad will have to make in consultation with his Dr. I chose no surgery after a great deal of reading on the National Cancer Institute site and the NCCN Site below:
www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/head-and-neck.pdf There really is no right or wrong decision just what your Dad feels comortable with. But I strongly encourage a 2nd opinion from a CCC or and NCI listed facility.
