Connie--unfortunately, oral cancers are often missed. I know; I walked around with a two centimeter tumor in my tonsil for over two years while under the care of an ENT.
Totally normal to be scared, and you're about to find out that you are tougher than you think!
My advice is not to think too far ahead, don't worry about things before they need to be worried about. And, worry never changes the outcome, good or bad.
Good luck, you came to the right place.