I've followed Grant Achatz's story with some interest - partly because I live in Chicago and partly because his diagnosis was the first time I'd heard of oral cancer... which I later went on to think I had but turned out I didn't.

Not having had the disease, I'm in no position to comment re his treatment vs. other treatment protocols. I will say though, that having followed his story and his career here in Chicago (faily meteoric rise in the foodie world), he appears to be a... what's the right word? Dickhead. He's arrogant, a tad unkind and ultra-competitive, etc. Alinea, his restaurant, has been lauded up one way and down the other, as has he and his previously referenced meteoric rise. Remember, these days, chefs attain celebrity status just like regular Hollywood folks (deserved or not).

I say that not to defend his choice of treatments because of his career but only by way of explaining that for someone like him, perhaps altering his life to allow in other options wouldn't be feasible.

As far as Oprah is concerned, her "knowledge" of oral cancer and typical treatment protocols, etc is probably limited to whatever Achatz's advance folks told her. She has a history of doing very limited research before she "endorses" something (see James Frey), as well as a history of fawning over people who might add to her fame (as if).

Anyway, he's writing a book now called Life, On the Line. A treatment for it is in the link attached. Seems fairly interesting - he discusses the cancer in depth among all his cooking stories. While he preserved his tongue -- like so many of you, his treatments were awful and clearly knocked the stuffing out of him. He mentions that he discovered that he "didn't have to change his life at all" which is crap, in my opinion -- that's the arrogant brat in him coming out. His life has changed, it's evident physically and it's evident when you see him appear on tv now. If there's one thing about all of this that bothers me, it's that if he's been humbled by this, if it's modified his thinking at all, he won't allow the world to see that. Makes me wonder why.

http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/06/grant-achatz-is-writing-a-memoir-life-on-the-line/