Thank you all who have contributed to help me and others on this forum. I need your help again.

I have my second appointment with the ENT at MCV 12/18 (first was 10/23). I was able to finally get through to HIM on the phone last Thursday. He said he "had staged� my cancer (SCC-Floor of Mouth) during my first appointment, using physical exam only (looking into oral cavity, palpating neck nodes, no endoscope), as T1N0. I told him that my chest x-ray was clear and he said M0.

I asked him about scans and he said he would only do a scan if I select the surgery option (I was given two option, do nothing and wait, or surgery). Directly prior to the surgery, he said he would do a CT. He explained that the surgery he was talking about (I don�t know what you call this particular procedure) was a removal of tissue around the original excised 2mm tumor site (a minimal 2cm diameter of tissue removed) to determine if the margins are clear. I forgot to ask how they close the surgery site. Graft?

When I �pressed� him about having some sort of scan before my 12/18 appointment, he said he did not think it was necessary (I really almost �begged� him to order a scan, if for nothing else, for my own �peace of mind�). He said, �OK, we can do a CT scan, I don�t think we�ll learn anything, and I�ve been doing this a lot longer than you have.� I accepted this with grace, because I got what I wanted!

I am going to get a second opinion and I am starting to work on that NOW! I have I gotten information about Duke, thanks to the kind folks on this forum. I am actually closer to Johns Hopkins, which is ranked higher. Could those of you with experience at JH give me any advice or recommendations? I�m pretty sure I need to see an ENT, any recommendations? PMs are welcome!

I hope I can schedule an appointment for the second opinion soon, but because of the holidays, I doubt I�ll be able to get one until January.

Thank you kindly!

I was seen at 4 hospitals within four months and pushed them all for their plans for this stuff. 2 days after being seen at the Ohio State James Comp. Cancer Center I was on the table and they were doing their thing, I had many scans of all types and am glad I got them. MRI'S CtScans, Pet Scans . Good luck and I hope you get the surgery you need.

Thanks, Jim. And my thoughts are with you. I hope everything goes smoothly with the aneurysm appointment today! Let us know what the doc says.

Are you back yet? Inquiry friends need to know you are ok....

Catherine --

I sent you a PM.

Leslie,

Thanks for the info regarding ENTs at Johns Hopkins.

You have always been so informative and helpful in your posts and PMs. And... you also provide the needed links!

I am glad to hear that Fritz is doing well, and wish you both continued success!