Here is what I know and what I've been told. Surgery + chemo is an available option depending on the tumor. If you look up Dr. Neal Futran of the U of Washington Medical Center you will find a video of him interviewing an oral cancer patient who had just chemo (before and after)and surgery. At the time of the interview she was a 3 year survivor and scanning clear.

My ENT informed me that IF I had a recurrance that wasn't in a good spot surgically, that I had little options other then chemo, which wouldn't save me...just prolong the inevitable. Of course I love my ENT but I would still get a second and third opinion before I made any decisions at that point.

My opinion...radiation sucks, but it did the job and I'm still breathing and scanning clear. Much better then the alternative.