Hi Darcy, my diagnosis was worse than your dad's, because many nodes on both sides of my neck were malignant, and my primary tumor was in the same place as your dad's. Definitely my treatment was curative! It's been 18 months since my diagnosis, and there's no trace of malignancy in any of my scans. I'm "fit as a fiddle," as the saying goes, and soooo grateful!!!

So if your dad's docs are telling you everything, then the possibility of total recovery is substantial. Please don't think it's time to ease up in the treatment. Now is the time to go to WAR! Fight that demon, help your dad resolve to get through this! Is your mom in the picture? What other support does your dad have? I notice that in your profile, you report that you're in the healthcare industry. Are there people in your organization with expertise that can help you? Please know that we are ALL here to help you! Can you get your dad to a comprehensive cancer center? Do you have relatives who live near one? (like Johns Hopkins in Baltimore? I'm trying to think what other centers are near West Virginia--does anybody out there reading this have any ideas?)

Please let us know what your dad's docs are saying now, okay? We've been through this, Darcy, and you can really depend on the information you get here. Let us know what treatment facilities you're looking at, and get your dad eating a LOT right now while he can. One thing about this process is that it causes weight loss, so have him beef up while he still enjoys it! Was he a smoker at all? If so, there are some aspects of his condition about which others will be more helpful to you than I can be. We're all here together, though, so if you share a little more information about your dad's challenge, we'll answer! You're in the right place for facts and lots of encouragement and cyber hugs. :-) You and your dad are in my prayers!

Carol