Hi, again, Marly,
I only had one positive lymph node, also, but they took over 30 out. I did have chemo in addition to the radiation, though. So far, so good! I was stage IV, though, and they didn't mess around after I was diagnosed. I had the surgery less than 2 weeks after diagnosis. I am excited to be approaching 3 years. My doctors have no idea why I got it. I wasn't even around smokers very much, but my ENT said that it could be some type of virus, one that possibly hasn't even been discovered yet. I was also negative for HPV.

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.