Hi everyone,
First off, I'm a bit of an interloper. As far as I'm aware I don't have cancer (yet).
I'm really using the forum to try and get some advice in relation to my brother, who was diagnosed recently with Squamous Cell Carcinoma in his mouth. The situation is a little complicated...
He had biopsies taken at the start of July 2026. The results came back very quickly (within 10days) and he was asked to attend a consult with the surgeon, albeit several weeks later (as the doc was on leave). He duly attended and was given the above diagnosis this week (along with smaller crystalline lesions on his lip as a result of previous sunburn and continuing smoking).
Now, the reason why it's complicated is that he is bipolar and also a recovering (probably still) alcoholic. He INSISTED on going to the appointment alone and wanted to face this on his own. I called the docs secretary to advise them of this beforehand and to warn them of his bipolar and history. They seemed a little taken aback that he was going in on his own and strongly hinted someone should be nearby, but I stuck to my brothers wishes.
I've since spoken to him and he is veeeeery chipper (almost manically so), which I can sort of understand given his "better" diagnosis than the worst case. Unfortunately everything he has said just doesn't add up. The treatment options the surgeon recommended were... Nothing. Just leave it. Wait and see what happens. Now, this kind of makes sense for the lesions on his lip, but it seems madness for the one in his mouth, which they are more concerned about particularly as it's under his tongue near the salivary gland. The advice he was apparently given was "wait till December, we'll look at it again and get back in touch if you think it's gotten worse". That seems utterly crazy as potentially by the time any changes show it could be too late. Every paper/NHS guidance doc I've read states that any oral cancer should be removed ASAP.
So, my question is - do you think this treatment option is viable or is it completely made up nonsense potentially so my brother can just deal with it on his own?
Any thoughts, advice, recommendations very much welcome.
Thank you x
