elem510,

I also have tonsil cancer and quit smoking 1 1/2 year before we found it. By accident. Minor out patient surgery to remove a benign lymph node behin the ear that kept getting infected. During the surgery the doctor found the a tumor around my carotid artery. He removed that then we went back 2 weeks later for a radical neck disection to find the cancer site. Nothing showed on CT Scans. This was all done before radiation. Yes, they did find the tonsil site, plus more lymph nodes that had tumors.
The surgery was not terrible - the scar is from behind my ear down to my breast bone and up under my chin. I persinally call it my check mark, meaning I must be O.K. the doctor checked me off. My ear is still numb - but gets a little better (surgery Oct.) Can't hold the phone up to it. And I have extreme sensitivity all the way over to my shoulder. But I am very pleased that I can lift my arm and it doesn't seem as if anything was damaged by the surgery.
As a woman I wasn't pleased that I couldn't wear my winter turtle necks - but I'm hopig enough of the sensitivity is gone by this winter to wear them.
Sorry this is so long, but after what your husband has been through already I'm sure he'll handle the surgery wonderfully. I slept in the recliner for a while.
Good for you for being the care giver that you have been, and I'm sure will continue to be.

Take care,
Dinah