Dear Rosie,

First,I want to give you my condolences on the loss of your wonderful daughter.I was not a member of this forum when she was going through her illness,but I have read alot of your past posts.I also viewed some of the pictures that you posted.She was a beautiful girl and I am so sorry that she was taken from you and your family so quickly.My heart ached when I read your post that she had passed.You are what the word mother is all about and I wish you strength and peace in this difficult time.It is so unselfish that you would take the time to help others when you are still grieving.


In regard to his tongue,the doctor said that he would have to also take the base.It seems that there is vascular involment throughout his tongue.It seems that the blood supply from his tongue is feeding the tumor.
If it stays true to form that the tumor is now getting it's blood supply from the right side the whole tongue needs to be removed.Yes,he has seen a team of rad.oncologists.All his doctors feel that the surgery needs to come first.He is having difficulty swallowing due to the size and location of the tumor.It does also seem that with malignant melanoma surgery is always called for first.The doctors stated that if they would have found mets anywhere else in his body except for his head and neck region he would have been deemed terminal and just made comfortable.


If all goes well with the surgery he should begin chem/rad about 3-4 weeks after.Even with all these measures that are being taken he still has a very poor prognosis.We found out yesterday that no one with this type of cancer has lived beyond 22 months.We are praying he will be the first.He was debating last night whether or not to have this surgery because it will be quite disfiguring and there is a very high chance of mets and recurrence.The surgeon said this is his only chance at living so I think he has resolved himself to having it on Friday.


I want to thank you again for your response.I wish you and your family peace and happiness.


Patty