Hi Gwenny and welcome to the group. I had the same deal almost - SCC, Stage III, right tonsil, no mets, no surgery, just IMRT radiation (33x) and 2 Cisplatin treatments. One of basic patient rights is effective pain management. I studied what worked and requested the drugs from my oncologist before I even needed them. I have Vicodin, 15mg Morphine Sulphate tablets and 50 mg Duragesic (worked up from 25mg), and they're handling it pretty well. Oxycontin is also very effective I am told.
I kept all my teeth and colateral radiation was reflecting off my gold crowns and causing tongue and other mouth burns. I put cotton rolls between my tongue and teeth and between the teeth and inside of my cheeks (by the molars) during treatment and it seemed to make a real difference. Although by the end of treatment everything was pretty baked. I had a really painful sore on the side of my tongue but it's all healed up now. It took about 6 weeks after the end of treatment to really notice an improvement.
To keep spirits up - stay distracted. Stay connected and don't isolate. Talk to others, share with others, read, watch TV, read the bible. Think about life after treatment and the wonderful new opportunity that awaits you -The second chance. Like Bonnie Raitt said in one of her tunes "life becomes more precious the less of it there is to waste"