Amy,

I had surgery first (partial glossectomy and modified neck dissection), followed by radiation. The neck dissection included the removal of many lymph nodes and, for me, was probably the least difficult part of the entire course of treatment. Most people here who have had surgery and radiation will tell you that their surgery was much easier to take than radiation. I do remember that my appearance shortly after surgery was pretty scary to some of my family members, but I'm sure I looked worse than I felt most of the time, and the incisions healed rather quickly.

Cathy