My tumor was 4.778cm. Now you have me curious about the other dimensions, I'll have to find the paperwork.

Funny, I just asked another OCF board contributor the size of his tumor. My doctors advised me that if it was a stage I or II classification that either surgery or radiation would suffice. And if it was larger then it would be chemo/radiation and then afterwards maybe surgery. Because of the size and location of the tumor they all recommended surgery then radiation and no chemo. The one doctor told me if you have to get a tumor on the tongue you have it in the best possible spot for access. I don't feel that lucky. All of them are very confident that I have this disease beaten. The one day my mom said to my RO, "Boy, I come here every day with my son...your job is so depressing. How do you do it all?" My RO replied, "It's cases like your sons' that made me and keep me as a doctor." I felt real good about his answer. Then my mom goes, "So, it's a guarantee that my son is going to beat this cancer." RO goes, "There's no guarantee's in life." LOL..Way to go MOM...LOL...Way to go.

My cause is unknown. They all agree because of tumor location it was not HPV related. One thinks it's because I work with various chemicals at work, I do work with a lot of carcinogens. Another says we'll never know. Another thinks that my tongue was being agitated for years before I got this cancer. I looked up my records and noticed I went to my dentist 4 or 5 times in 2006, I was having trouble with a rough molar/filling and it was rubbing my tongue. It was fixed, but in late 2007 my tongue would burn with spicy foods in that same spot...a couple of times I would get a canker sore or a cluster of sores on that side but they always healed. Since then I have found out that I'm the 4th person in my family with H&N cancers. So, there is a weak link in the bloodline.

Then in late April 2008 a sore developed. In June/July it exploded in size. My PD and OS were very shocked at the situation. They kept saying it can't be cancer. My ENT said in another six mo's it would not have been good. My ENT moved very quick, received my case on a Friday, saw me that Monday, PET scan and meeting with an MO that Tuesday, exploratory surgery and a biopsy on Wednesday(he came in the recovery room and told us it's cancer but we'll wait for the pathology tests). The following week I saw my RO and a few days after that was neck dissection and tumor removal. And I didn't have to make one appointment. My ENT told me one day, "My staff made a mistake you're not seeing that RO, there's nothing wrong with Dr. So-n-so, but he's not an expert on H&N/OC's you'll be seeing this RO...My ENT probably saved my life.