Hi Amy

i must just say that it does seem a little bit off the norm to have radiation AND chemo before a BND.It is my limited understanding,that in the case of large tumours,they may need to be shrunk before surgery can take place,but it sounds like your treatment plan was intended to be more curative than that.Having surgery now,will be more difficult,and i wonder what the follow up will be to the surgery with such recent radiotherapy.
Compared to the rads ,Rob found his bilateral (radical one side and modified the other side) neck dissection a breeze and was only in hospital for three days.He had 58 staples from ear to ear,but healed beautifully,healing of radiated skin may be a little more difficult.

So get the nutrition going and get what strength you have left rallied for this next round.Why and how this disease choose its victims is not something i would dwell on too much concentrate your energy on getting well.

good luck

liz