I wasn't at the doctor's appointment today, but I freaked out when mom told me what she thought the doctor told her. I asked mom the same questions JAM, but she didn't have an answer for me. I guess I should have been at the appointment. Now that I've read your responses, I can only hope that mom misunderstood the doc. I'll contact the doc on Tuesday to get the scoop. Thanks for the responses, I'm feeling better knowing this isn't the norm and that it;s hopefully a misunderstanding.

Mom's caregvr. DDS failed to dx 01/03. Dx Stg IV SCC 05/03. Induct. chemo, IMRT, 5FU, H, Iressa, Neck disect, radiation. Dad's caregvr. Dx 01/04 Ext. Stg SCLC. Mets to liver/bone 08/04. Died 11/12/04. Mom tongue CA dx 06/13, hemiglossectomy (80% removed) 08/13. Clean margins and nodes, but PNI. 6/15/15: Tongue CA at base of remnant tongue. Declined further tx; hospice.
Died 10/13/15. What a long and difficult journey.