Welcome, Janet.

Getting a second opinion (or third -- some here have gotten as many as five!) is a good idea, especially if you have been seen only by a local ENT. He/she may be a good doctor, but also has patients with enlarged tonsils, sinus infections and the like and probably has not seen many cases of this type of cancer. The University of Iowa is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and offers a head and neck oncology program, where your case will be considered by physicians from a variety of specialties (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, etc.). Each will have seen many cases of oral cancer, and each will bring his/her expertise into the determination of a treatment plan.

And you'll find the main OCF website and these message boards to be a valuable source of information from people who have been there/done that and are happy to offer their own expertise in getting through this.

Keep coming back, and keep asking questions.