My Dad was diagnosed with SCC of the tongue in July 2005. September 1st he had a partial glossectomy and right neck dissection. 2 of the 34 nodes removed came back positive for SCC. 34 radiation and 7 chemo treatments later, he finished up in early December. On 3/6 his tongue was biopsied again due to pain and swelling. The cancer is back and the tumor stretches the whole way down the side of his tongue (mid mouth to the base of the tongue.) The Dr at Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center sent him for a PET/CT scan on Friday night and said that if the cancer has not spread to other areas of the body we will do a full glossectomy with tongue reconstruction, left neck dissection, and insert a PEG tube and trach. He went on to say that if it has spread it is non-operable and terminal. We are waiting on the results of the PET/CT scan and obviously on pins and needles. We left the Dr's. office on Friday feeling like we just heard my Dad's death sentence, but now I am not so sure. Even if this has spread, is it really "terminal?" Should we go to Sloan-Kettering, John's Hopkins or the Mayo clinic??? Has anyone ever heard their doctor tell them they are going to die and then STILL fight and win??? We are looking for hope here; we want to fight this monster!