My dad is 86 and his team of doctors thought surgery would be worse on him and potentially kill him quicker than the cancer with more pain and less quality if life than if he tries to live with the cancer by keeping it in check with chemo and radiation and managing the pain. He is now going through more radiation and still is in a lot of pain.. Some days I think he should of had the surgery for his quality of life now is not that great. I wish the best for your mom

My Dad - 85 yrs old; 9/09 diagnosed T3NOMO; rad/low dose chemo; all clear; 6/10 - L retomolar trigone; more chemo; seems to have shrunk; 10/2010 back - significant ulcerative mass in the left retromolar trigone extending into the left tonsil