Hi, Hockeydad
If your tumor turns out to be HPV positive, I would look at this analysis of long-term survival - it is posted on the OCF Site here: JCO Article

If they are suggesting a neck dissection as a way of reducing the radiation dose, that's one thing. If they are suggesting a ND instead of radiation (and this is an NCCN approved treatment for T1-2, N0-1 staging), the following statement in the article is one you might want to discuss with them:

[quote]Indeed, we observed better survival among HPV-positive patients who were treated by radiation compared with those who were not, consistent with enhanced sensitivity of HPV-positive OPSCCs to chemoradiotherapy.[/quote]

None of these decisions are easy; that's why it is so important to have the very best doctors available.

Maria