My experience was much like Julianne's, except they didn't even remove the tonsil as the radiation burned it away to practically nothing. There are long term affects from the 7 weeks rads and weekly chemo, mostly to do with swallowing, reduced saliva and messed up taste buds, as well as shorter term affects such as weight loss and fatigue. Get him to eat as much as he can of all his favorite foods. It may be quite a while before anything tastes right again.

David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.