Oh, Stacey, don't let him refuse radiation. It's rough, but besides surgery it's the only thing that will "cure" him. They did chemo for me primarily as a back-up. The fact that he is positive for HPV is actually in his favor, from what I have read. Hang in there, and get as much information as you can.

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.