Nancy

One suggestion for using this forum is that you open your own thread. By that I mean you click on the "new Topic" button at the top left of the screen. Otherwise you are just in the middle of a thread started by others and dealing with other issues. Better chance of a more focused response. You don't have to bundle all your questions together. There is no limit on how many new topics you can open.
I'm glad Christine has given you comfort and good advice.
finally, as to your questions: I decided John Hopkins was too far to drive when I could go to Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center. You will see that this forum is very big on going to a Comprehensive Cancer Center -CCC.
Glossectomy is just a fancy term for cutting out that part of my tongue where the cancer came back. It's complications from that surgery that prevent me from swallowing. Erbitux is the "martha stewart" drug - a chemotherapy that is less harmful to normal cells and kidneys and hearing than the platinum based chemo drugs but it can have bad side effects on skin.(as happened to me) vigilon is a hydrogel dressing for burns that I needed for my first round of radiation and Erbitux due to horrendous burning on my throat with open sores and peeling skin. I am lucky I have a caregiver who drove me to my radiation/chemo when I was too sick or too doped up. Last piece of advice, get a recommendation for a prothodontist - a specialized dentist. My CCC recommended one who specializes in oral cancer patients. I am sure John Hopkins has some recommendations as there can be lots of reasons (and treatments) for jaw pain. I just worked through mine even though all the advice is "stop if you have Pain". If I had stopped just because it hurt, I never would have gotten better on opening my mouth. Everything about my treatment and post TX exercises was and is painful so I don't know why they say that.
Good luck
charm