Amber, was your father in the military? Is that why he is being treated at the Naval Hospital? If he can, I endorse the other opinions voiced here, to get to a comprehensive cancer center. Anything less and he is rolling the dice with his life. Oral cancer can be extremely aggressive. Radiation with chemo is often used to stop any traveling of the disease to other parts of the body. It is common to have the initial tumor spread the disease to other areas of the body, lymph nodes for example, often before the patient even knows they have cancer. So if it is possible, have him go to a cancer center where they know as much as is known about this disease and have treated hundreds or even thousands of patients with the same methods. God bless you and your family.

Yes, my dad was in the military. Served 24 years with the navy as an enlisted man and another 6 years as a civilian.

His first surgery they took some of his lymph nodes from the neck? The cancer is on both sides of his jaw this time around according to the CAT scan today.

I will ask mom about getting a second opinion for him. Thanks for the information, it really helps.

Amber
I just wanted to let you know we were thinking of you and your family ..listen to these folks ..they have been there and they know.
Your folks are lucky to have a daughter who cares so much.
Take care
Marica

Amber,

I am really sorry to hear about your father. I am glad you have joined us and hope your questions get answered. I am hoping for the best possible treatment plan so your dad can get this behind him. Best wishes to you and your family.

Ed

Dad and mom decided to go through with the surgery and stay at the Naval hospital because they trust the doctors. The surgery went well, took 18 hours though. The nurses and doctors dubbed my dad Superman because he's healing really well. The second day they did something to the tracheotomy so he could talk to us, they said they didn't expect him to talk for a few more days. His wounds are healing really well and the graphs are taking. He came home on Tuesday after a week in the hospital, he's got a feeding tube and will be on it for about another 4-5 days.

Ok, I'm babbling. I'm just so relieved that he's ok. He starts radiation after he's healed for a little while.

We've got spreadsheets of his progress, what he eats, etc. We made one for his meds and another for his blood pressure/pulse/tempature and decided that we needed one for his progress and what he's eaten and how many cans of Jevity he has taken and so forth. The doctors were impressed and jokingly asked if we wanted a job.