Thanks for all the comments. Good point about the post-radiation skin. I know how that works. I was just starting to eat better and feel better in my mouth when they did the biopsy on March 1, and it has been slow to recover. The doctor said the post-radiation tissue heals slower.

I will not be having any radiation after the surgery. I already did my time on that, hopefully for the last time! I know the nature of the recovery is different, but if people are saying the surgery recovery is easier than the radiation recovery, then that is good to know.

I know shoulder problems are common because in the more comprehensive dissections there is no way to avoid damage to certain muscles and nerves. My selective dissection is not supposed to have those problems but they are possible.

Dan