Hello again,

First of all, I want to thank all of you for responding so quickly.

Brian, I'm very happy to learn you've been healthy for over six years. Among those who, as you mentioned, avoided the chemo and are now fighting for their lives, do you happen to know what stage their cancer was in? I assume that would make a big difference. Yes, I understand there are no definitive answers in this game. However, you seem to have sound judgement in these matters and I would appreciate your opinion. People here seem to respect you a great deal, and I know that must mean something. If you feel more comfortable (and have the time), feel free to e-mail your opinion to me.

Elizabeth, the tumor was located on the lower right side of my tongue. Its discovery involved a series of twists and turns. Sometime in March of last year I went for a regular check up. My primary doctor saw a small white spot (which was hardly visible) under my tongue and referred me to an ENT. The ENT confirmed its presence (he called it "leukoplakia"--which is a precancerous lesion) and scheduled me for surgery. Two days later, I went to my dentist for a regular cleaning, I told him about what they had found, he checked the spot, and saw absolutely nothing. I then went to an oral surgeon who didn't see it either. Two days later, I saw another ENT and he also did not see anything. After seeing three professionals in a row who assured me that there was nothing in my tongue, I forgot about the whole ordeal. Of course, despite all this, the first two doctors had already planted the seed of suspicion in my consciousness. In fact, if I live through this thing, I should probably thank them--especially the first doctor.

In any case, by October, I started feeling a mild pain in my tongue--especially when I yawned. At this point I began to examine my tongue very closely and eventually noticed a very small white lesion. At first I thought it was just some sort of innocuous sore, but the darn thing would not go away. A bit later, I scheduled to see an ENT (the same guy who hadn't seen anything a couple of months before), and this time he DID notice a suspicious looking lesion. He did a biopsy a couple of days later and it came back positive for SCC.

Elizabeth, to answer you other question, I am blessed to live 15 minutes from the only CCC in Miami.

Please keep the replies coming--I need all the input I can get.

Gino