I think we should make Marks response a permanent part of the site. What he says is so true, and the ambiguity of the situation is frustrating. I went the other route from Mark, sugery and radiation. For sure the treatment was hell on earth. The recovery was long. There are radiation problems such as xerostomia, healing issues, and even the worst case senario, a radiation induced osteosarcoma 10 years from now should I live that long... and there is no going back to the well. On the other hand I believe that they got everything there was to get, and while I have typical "survivor/itis", life is pretty damn good. One caveate...Last week OCF lost one of its first members, Kip, suddenly to a brain tumor that no one knew was there. She had regular normal results check ups, but in an airport during travel started having a seizure. They gave her 3 days to live. Micro metastasis are not isolated occurances, and 3 month exams do not look at every inch of your body. While most recurrances happen in the oral environment, the second most likely locations for it to show up are in the aero digestive tract and the brain. Given this, while I follow a strict protocol of visual exams every 3 months, and annual MRIs and lung CT scans, I am looking elsewhere besides my mouth. I personally believe that the price I paid for the radiation and the price paid by those who elect a wash of chemo at the end, is a valuable step. But I am only a single opinion and not a doctor. Make your most informed decision and stay on top of things...the rest of your life. Brian responding from Nice, FRANCE. Back soon!!