David:

Its an honor you were asked to speak about oral cancer.

I would suggest that the doctors make sure the patient really completly understands how much their life is going to change and it may not go back to how it was before. This needs to be started upon the first consultation, before treatments start so it sinks in. The patient needs to know that recovery for this type of cancer isnt a few months it can be years.

The doctors also need to know if there isnt a caregiver available what to do. My hospital sent a visiting nurse, which was helpful but not the same as having a caregiver. I had no one telling me or helping me to eat, drink, with medications, or with the PEG. Im very fortunate, Im here to tell about it, someone else may not have gotten thru it as well.

The doctors also need to give their patients all the info as to how bad it will get. They may be afraid of scaring the patients, but thats better than not telling them. I was told some things, but I was not prepared for the terrible side effects of fatigue, nasuea, eating problems, mouth sores, etc.