I initally had surgery to remove Type I SCC lesion in tongue last August as well a selective neck dissection removing 6 lymph nodes. The tumor had narrow margins and the lymph nodes were all clean.

Due to the narrow margins and unknown cause (not a smoker or drinker), they suggested radiation. After two weeks, I ended treatments due to intense side effects.

Early this March, I had a recurrence (possible skip lesion) and had surgery again. This time the doctor also had 5 additional biopsies he performed along my tongue (right side) from front to back. Tumor came back clean margins and all biopsies were negative.

In April, I started Radiation treatments again on my tongue and upper neck and completed them 5/20.

I followed up with the Radiologist and he said that he spoke to 5/6 other Radiologists about my situation and treatment. All but one said the radiation was the right thing (no chemo). One (who happens to be a top radiologist in the world) recommended brachytherapy. My radiologist said he is "on the fence" about whether I should do it or not.

I followed up with my surgeon yesterday and he told me to "think about it" and see him in two weeks. He has been definitive (as in the second round of radiation treatments), so I know he is also on the fence.

No one has any "hard/fast/definitive" statistics on what the right thing is to do. In fact, the first time around five doctors were "uncertain" if radiation was the right thing to do. Everyone leaned to yes, since the SCC was of unknown cause. My surgeon said that if I was a smoker then he wouldn't have me do anything else other than quit.

Any experiences or ideas here. I'm really at a loss. Thanks.