Beth,

Boy, it sounds like you have had a very difficult time with this surgery. Where are you being treated that you are receiving such poor care? Most of us try to go to one of the Comprehensive Cancer Centers where they see thousands of cases like ours. Here is the list of centers from the resource section of this forum:

http://oralcancerfoundation.org/resources/index.htm#centers

You might want to go to one of them for your radiation.

How is your right arm? Can you still raise it up over your head? Do you have any pain? If so, you should be receiving Physical Therapy. Ask for a script and a referal to someone who has experience with people who have had neck disecctions.

Take care,
Eileen