I had a very similar situation, tonsil primary but with bilateral metastasis to the cervical nodes. After a full course of radiation I had a modified radical neck dissection of the same side as the primary. Biopsy of those removed nodes found no cancer present, but in retrospect I am still glad they did the neck dissection to be sure. I am now 4 years out with only a few problems, all related to the radiation, not the surgery. I am curious if your husband was a smoker. The reason I ask, is there is mounting evidence that those of us that were not, and perhaps got this cancer as a result of HPV, mostly get the cancer in the tonsilar area.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.