Thank you, thank you Eric, David, Uncle Vern, and Charm for your replies. I can't tell you how much it helps to know that you are all out there, ready to share your encouragement, wisdom, and experience. I am already feeling so blessed to have discovered this site.

To give you a little more information on our situation, my husband Roy is a non-smoker and non-drinker. The results of his surgery were that his lymphnode involvement was "extensive," and they were also very adherent to the surrounding tissues. The doctor removed many nodes, the SCM muscle, the jugular vein, but he was able to keep all nerves intact. It all added up to be: Stage 4, T2/N2b/M0

I'm unsure (because I'm a complete novice in all of this), but these results make me think surgery was a good call. Would you agree? Just wondering. I know I need to let this go though and move on to how to best help him through the next phase.

I want to thank you all again for welcoming me here. I look forward to learning more about your own journeys.

With a heart full of gratitude,

Laurie