Bill. I had regular surgery (by the top guy in Toronto - who is also the head of the head and neck oncology departmant - at the TOP cancer center in Canada. However. I would NOT have had surgery if it had been HPV related cancer - which is what yours is. The first line of defense for your type of cancer (because it responds really well to chemo and rads) is actually chemo radiation.

I had a follow up of chemo and rads as a secondary treatment because my cancer wasn't HPV related. And despite my surgeon's certainty he got it all - he wanted to play it safe and throw the works at me (because I am not a smoker/or drinker and was fairly young) I trusted his expertise in the matter as this is ALL HE DOES for a living. (amazingly complicated head and neck cancers) He consulted with the rads and chemo team and told me his recommendation, and the radiation dr. said the same - so I when for it.

and so far so good.

hugs.