Hi, Lori,

I think that delays are common and I know it took 40 long days for my husband's treatment to begin after diagnosis. But a good part of the delay in our case was getting the medical, radiation and ENT oncologists all to meet with us (delayed due to conferences, vacations of them) and to go to the tumor board, make the radiation mask, etc. But- your husband has a much more urgent situation than most people who are dealing with their first treatment and in those cases it makes sense that part of the wait is due to diagnosis and making treatment plans. In your husband's case, is there any medical reason for the delay? If not, I would be persistent in doing everything I could to move the surgery up. People often cancel (or have to cancel) surgery and I would be on the surgeon to take any spot that opened up. I would enlist the help of anyone who might be able to help. The seriousness of his situation and the stress that the two of you have endured makes an this wait unbearable. I am so sorry you have to go through this as I found the wait to begin treatment one of the most difficult times of my life.

Sophie