Hello MG, Welcome to our little world. I too was 40 when diagnosed, with three great kids and a wonderful wife so I guess we have several things in common. There are many here that have had the neck dissection and it is an operation that sounds worse than it is. Many of us were out of the hospital in 3 days some 4 or 5 days. Pain is usually not severe in fact the tonsillectomy was far worse for me than the dissection. If you can ask your surgeon if he/she plans to do a "modified" radical neck dissection, you will experience less long-term side effects if they leave the accessory nerve intact. Do not fear rambling, we do it all the time.

Take care

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.