I know that it's an old cliche but "it ain't cancer until the pathology report says so". It could be a swollen lymph gland from an infection.
You are wise to get it checked out - I too have every anomaly checked out immediately (this from a person who NEVER went to doctors before unless I had to be carried in). Don't get ahead of yourself in the negative part of it.

It sounds more like a modified neck disection that they are propossing IF your biopsy comes back positive so your recovery time should be faster IF that is the case. I wish I could be more reassuring, but I can relate to your fear.

Statistically the odds of recurrence in year three are very low.