Cathy, I too would urge you to get several opinions on your best course of treatments. If I could have done surgery alone It would have been a snap compared to radiation. Radiation sounds nice and conveniant but compared to the surgery it was considerably more challenging (and the long term effects can be a real pain).

My comments here are NOT to influence you away or towards either treatment. Just do whatever gives you the best outcome as per the experts (and don't worry if that includes some changes in the way you look). Squamous cell is not a cancer to fool with. That is why you should have more doctors give their opinion.

I wish you well.

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.